Motability Drops Black Box Requirement After User Backlash

Motability drivers will no longer need black boxes in their vehicles after criticism from users hit by the new rules.

The Motability scheme lets people exchange certain disability benefits for a vehicle lease. It required black boxes for new leaseholders and all drivers under 30 starting in April.

Motability boss Andrew Miller said the Drive Smart program aimed to cut accidents and control insurance costs. The company paused it due to user concerns and anxiety.

Drivers told Motability the app gave inconsistent results, failed to account for driving adaptations and came with confusing, restrictive rules.

The devices tracked habits like speed and braking. Repeated poor ratings could have booted drivers from the scheme.

Those already enrolled will exit the program on May 22, Motability announced.

Actor and disability rights campaigner Keron Day criticized the changes. He thanked Motability leaders for recognizing the serious impact on disabled people's lives.

Day, who has cerebral palsy and starred in the Netflix series Sex Education, drives a wheelchair accessible vehicle with a steering aid, floor indicators and buttons for lights, wipers, gears and handbrake.

He joined West Cornwall MP Andrew George in pressing Motability to drop the mandate. They met company bosses last week.

Motability CEO Andrew Miller said, "Drive Smart was introduced to help reduce accidents, improve driving and, in turn, manage insurance costs, while keeping all the scheme's insurance features in place. But we have listened carefully to customer feedback and recognise that the experience was not where it needed to be. That is why we have decided to pause Drive Smart while we work with customers to understand how it can be improved."

A green rating offered cheaper insurance. More than four red ratings in 12 months could remove drivers from the scheme.

George and Day called the black boxes an invasive telematics technology imposed without consultation or safeguards.

George said, "I must congratulate Motability CEOs for listening and being prepared to change policy when confronted with the impact this scheme has had on thousands of disabled people. Keron and I are keen that they make some major changes before deciding how they will better manage the difficult insurance challenges faced by the scheme."