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To: Department of Transport

The removal of “Drive Smart” and other black boxes for those on motability

Photo by Jakub Pabis on Unsplash
Remove the “Drive Smart” Device for Motability Scheme Users

Why is this important?

This petition calls for the removal of the Drive Smart monitoring device from vehicles provided under the Motability Scheme. While intended to promote safe driving, many users feel the device is unfair, intrusive, and not suitable for all drivers—especially those with disabilities.

Motability customers rely on their vehicles for independence, work, medical appointments, and daily life. The Drive Smart device:

  • Tracks driving behaviour (speed, braking, acceleration, time of travel)
  • Can lead to warnings or removal from the scheme
  • Adds pressure and anxiety for users who already face challenges

For many disabled drivers, conditions can affect reaction time, movement, or driving patterns—meaning the system may misinterpret safe driving as risky behaviour.

Why This Matters

1. Unfair Assessment

The system uses rigid criteria that don’t account for:

  • Physical disabilities
  • Neurological conditions
  • Medication side effects

This creates a one-size-fits-all judgement that doesn’t reflect real-world driving for disabled people.

2. Increased Stress & Anxiety

Users report feeling constantly monitored, leading to:

  • Loss of confidence while driving
  • Fear of losing their vehicle
  • Avoiding necessary journeys

3. Impact on Independence

Losing access to a Motability vehicle can mean:

  • Missing medical appointments
  • Losing employment
  • Increased isolation

For many, this isn’t just a car—it’s lifeline-level support.

4. Lack of Transparency

  • Limited clarity on how scores are calculated
  • No fair appeal system for disputed data
  • Little flexibility for individual circumstances

What This Petition Asks For

We call on Motability to:

  • Remove the mandatory Drive Smart device
    OR
  • Make it optional rather than compulsory
  • Introduce fair, disability-aware assessment methods
  • Provide a clear and accessible appeals process

How to Support?

  • Sign the petition
  • Share it with friends, carers, and support groups
  • Raise awareness within disability communities

Motability users deserve trust, dignity, and fairness—not constant surveillance that risks taking away their independence. This petition is about making the scheme work with disabled people, not against them.

I have had the DriveSmart wedge due to a named driver being under 30. I am 33 and held my license for 15 years, with no claims made in that time, and also been with motability for 6 years. I have been taken off the insurance due to 2 red weeks. The red weeks happened the first 2 weeks I have the wedge. 

I had a call from Direct line where the call handler told me that he was taking me off the insurance there and then and wouldn’t be able to drive my car. I was not given any warning, no letter, no email, nothing.

This needs to change! I’ve lost my lifeline, my mental heath has deteriorated, and I am at a complete loss over something that isn’t reliable.

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