Divisive proposal on mutual recognition of driving licenses

During a TDM talk show which took place on Sunday, five directly elected lawmakers, including Ng Kuok Cheong, Leong Sun Iok, Ho Ion Sang, Si Ka lon, and Mak Soi Kun, voiced their different stances regarding the mutual recognition of driving licenses between Macau and mainland China.

Last week, the Transport Advisory Committee reunited for a meeting to discuss several topics relating to transportation. One of the topics addressed a proposal which would recognize mainland drivers’ licenses in the MSAR, and vice-versa.

Ng said that the program “is essentially deteriorating the local environment, not optimizing it.” Leong worried that there will be more non-local drivers driving in an unfamiliar environment. Ho believes that “there is no urgency at the current stage” to implement the policy.

Si and Mak, however, agreed with the project.

In Si’s opinion, the cooperation between Macau and Guangdong, especially concerning the Greater Bay area development, will be a key trend in this region’s integrated development. Therefore, recognizing driving licenses on both sides will be more convenient for the residents.

“Macau will be closing and limiting itself,” if the city refuses to accept the project, Si concluded.

One of Mak’s suggestions was for  Macau to accept the project and to improve its transportation network, for instance, by making road signs more recognizable and by making the penalties for transportation infractions more severe.

The director of the Transport Bureau (DSAT), Lam Hin Sam, based his preference for the mutual recognition of driving licenses between Macau and mainland China on the benefits it would offer to Macau residents.

According to the head of DSAT, the policy helps the local youth in adapting to the new living, working, and operating standards of businesses across the Greater Bay area. He also noted that the number of local residents who are taking the mainland’s driving exams is continuously growing.

This year to date, around 6,000 MSAR residents have taken the mainland’s driving exams, approximately 1,000 residents more than last year.

As Lam explained, the mutual recognition policy would only concern holders of driving licenses for light vehicles.

“We should all be absolutely confident in the mainland’s driving exams because they have become increasingly tighter,” said Lam. Lam continued to explain that the penalties in the mainland for  driving infractions are more strict than in the MSAR.

On whether Lam himself is concerned about Macau’s road safety, he shared that he expects that Macau will be able to adapt easily to the increased number of drivers.

He gave the example of Hong Kong, where, according to Lam, mainland driving licenses have been recognized for 13 years and it has not caused any serious disruption.

In Lam’s opinion, the increase might arise in the non-local employment market, particularly in the private transportation sector.

He also noted that the tourists have never had a high inclination for driving their own vehicles in Macau. “Overall, we do not think there is a problem,” concluded Lam.

According to Lam, there is no need to amend the city’s transportation law to implement the policy. He believes that if the mainland confirms the agreement, the project can be carried out because Macau already has a very similar set of driving regulations, when compared to the mainland.

Vong Vai Hong, head of the Transport Department of the Public Security Police Force (PSP), said on Sunday that his department will, as usual, support any government policy. He also believes that the project will not result in an increase in the number of accidents.

Vong also shared that he does not think that the mutual recognition policy would place any burden on the police in Macau.

Currently, no implementation schedules have been made for the project, as noted by Lam, and the transport authority will need to discuss the project’s details with state representatives.

This project was suggested in 2013, however, in 2013 it only involved Guangdong and Macau and it was strongly opposed by society. JZ