tl;dr: Imagining a future where a blockchain certifies your competence as a driver and the end of mandated driving instruction.

My daughter is going for her driving test this afternoon.

I’ve been training with her for 9 months. We’ve done urban roads, suburban roads, and interstate. We’ve practiced parking in many scenarios and she’s driving at different times of day and different weather situations (not ice).

She’s ready for the test.

Regulatory State of Driving

To get to this point, my daughter had to check a lot of boxes to meet the requirements from the state of Maryland to be a driver.

She had to

• attend 6 in-person Driver’s Ed classes. These were essentially the same classes I attended 30+ years ago.
• take a computerized test to get her permit
• complete 3 “in-car” driving tests with an instructor, each for 2 hours.
• pass the driving test on the official course, which I am hopeful she will do later today.

What struck me about this process was how it should be totally different in the future.

Today, it requires a lot of paper, people, and unnecessary processes.

The Outcome, Not the Process

The purpose of all of these regulatory hurdles is to ensure that the drivers on the road know how to operate a vehicle. That’s obvious.

What’s not obvious is how the same outcome might be achieved in another way.

Maybe not today, but at some point.

For now, let’s leave aside autonomous vehicles (though I was hoping they would get hear en masse BEFORE my kids started driving).

Certifying Drivers in the Future

How might it be different?

• Get rid of in-person training and move it online
  (Coronavirus took care of this)
• Drivers in training could have a “breathalyzer” type device in their cars.
  For the car to start, they must unlock the “breathalyzer” with their registered mobile device and with the registered mobile device of the car owner. The proof-secured by a blockchain-that both are in the car at all times and the student is driving.
• As safe driving miles accrue (the insurance companies already do this), the profile of the learning driver gets updated. Plus, the car/Waze/state know locations, dates, time, speed, and weather. Again, secured by a blockchain.

At a certain point, there’s enough evidence, gathered in a decentralized manner that can be verified, to meet a minimum threshold.

Then, a smart contract updates her “permissions” for the car. It might be initially changed from “must be with owner of the car” to “permitted to drive during the hours of 6am-11pm.” After that, the car won’t start.

She should still have to pass the test (online and connected to her profile), but the industry of driving instructors should be available for people who feel like they want the help. It shouldn’t be a requirement.

It’s possible that the actual test, which is a course, not on the road and won’t have anyone in the car (due to coronavirus) becomes unnecessary.

It’s About Time

I’ve enjoyed spending the time with my daughter and teaching her to be a good driver (she is one). That’s been nice.

Yet, when I see inefficient and outdated systems that don’t reflect existing technologies (in-person vs. online) plus obvious opportunities to reinvent (decentralize the certification process), I can’t help but notice it.

The state has an interest in making sure drivers are responsible. I am all for that. What I want from the state is a respect for the time and money of its citizens at every turn (pun intended).

I know I am asking a lot, but a guy can dream, right?

But today, hopefully, dreams become reality for my daughter who will get to experience the freedom of her own license.

And I will experience the freedom of having to do even fewer carpools and errands than already do. More time to blog. Yay.

Wish her luck.