The Motability Scheme has confirmed that its new Drive Smart telematics system, being rolled out to drivers under 30, collects journey data that can be used by its Special Investigations Unit – prompting questions about privacy and independent mobility.
The move also follows a reversal in the scheme’s privacy statement after Belfast Live queried why it suggested the app might record journeys even when a user is a passenger or using public transport.
Motability clarified that the app only records journeys when the Scheme vehicle is in use and connected to the fitted device, and that data is not proactively shared with law enforcement or the Department for Work and Pensions, except where legally required.
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However, the organisation acknowledged that Drive Smart data may be used to assess claims or investigate potential misuse via the SIU.
Andy Broadfield, Managing Director of Electric and Insurance at Motability Operations, said: “The Motability Scheme keeps disabled people mobile, and reducing accidents is central to that. We also have to manage rising insurance costs responsibly, so it remains affordable and sustainable for everyone who relies on it.
“Drive Smart focuses on how someone is driving, not where they are going, and uses industry-standard technology to improve road safety and reduce accidents. We understand customers’ concerns about telematics, which is why data is used proportionately, drivers receive tailored feedback and any decisions that could affect a lease are carefully reviewed.”
The system monitors driving behaviour, including acceleration, braking and cornering, generating weekly scores. Drivers who receive four “red” scores in a 12-month period risk lease termination, although Motability says isolated emergency manoeuvres or high usage alone will not trigger a red week.
All named drivers on a lease are monitored if one driver is aged under 30, a policy Motability says is necessary because younger drivers have higher claims frequency. Drive Smart generates individual scores to ensure accountability is correctly attributed. Drive Smart scores are based on a whole week of driving behaviour.
Disability campaigners have raised concerns that the new telematics could inadvertently penalise disabled drivers and threaten independence.
Nuala Toman, Head of Policy at Disability Action Northern Ireland, said: “We’ve been quite disappointed in recent months around the debate that has emerged in the context of the scheme and the emphasis that has been placed on the idea that disabled people would misuse or abuse the Motability scheme, when we know it is a lifeline for disabled people, and there are lots of changes that have been discussed, raised, and highlighted that did create a negative perception of disabled people.
“For example, the emphasis being placed on luxury cars, with some brands now being removed from the scheme, and, there is a focus on making distinctions between different types of disability and adapted cars versus non-adopted cars, and we’re seeing this is moving towards a hierarchy of disability and in this context then there is this introduction of smart telematics for drivers under 30.
“And so firstly, the short journeys and red score thresholds. So disabled people rely on Motability vehicles for multiple short journeys. So one of the criteria for having access to a blue badge is inability to walk the length of a swimming pool and so if someone has a badge to ensure they can park adjacent to where they are, you know, to their point of destination, then that journey could, on the basis of criteria around accessing a blue badge, be less than 50 metres, you know, so for some disabled people a journey of more than 50 metres is too much.
“If you’re thinking of that in the daily life of a disabled person, there could be multiple short journeys, and we know, of course, you could talk about the rise in the use of mobility scooters and how there are other measures that can be used for short journeys. However, we know that disabled people rely on their cars to be able to go to health appointments, to do their shopping, to be able to socialise, to access prescriptions, to receive care, and to go about life and do many things that non-disabled people are doing, so to have your journeys counted on the basis of frequency and it is quite distressing.”
Nuala used the example of how disabled students at Queen’s University may use their vehicle to travel to classes in various parts of South Belfast throughout the day, which could see them flagged for making more than six journeys.
“In respect of the data sharing and potential impact on personal independence payments, There’s been so much in the press recently that has raised anxiety levels with disabled people, and the recent debate about reducing access to personal independent payment caused a lot of distress and, and worry, and that has stayed with disabled people.,” she said.
“We have many of our service users who have life-limiting and long-term disabilities that would not continue to receive PIP had those proposals been put forward, so those people are living with the day-to-day anxiety, that they could lose their benefits, and disabled people often feel judged and stigmatised when we know disabled people are just like everybody else, they want to work, they want to be part of everyday life.
“So the data sharing is whether it’s intended or not, it could be misinterpreted. Because there’s this issue that data could be shared, it’s important that we know who the data would be shared with and for what purpose, because in the absence of clarity, all it will do is increase the anxiety of disabled people.
“So what we will be asking is for clear safeguards on data use and a commitment that the data will not be used to consider what a person’s daily life looks like. There also needs to be transparency on who can access the data and the purpose that it would be used for, and guarantees that it would not be used inappropriately for benefit decision making, the other aspect is this fairness.
“The fairness aspect of smoothness, so some disabled drivers have limited strength or dexterity. They can have adaptations in their cars, they can experience spasms, tremors, or fatigue, use different kinds of controls or manage pain and fluctuating conditions, so it could be that all of that could lead to the smoothness metric being triggered as a result of disability rather than driving approach, And That is a very worrying position for, you know, for disabled people. Now we have fewer protections in this jurisdiction around indirect discrimination, but that doesn’t mean that indirect discrimination should be allowed to happen.
“For one, we need our laws changed here locally to better protect people, to be in line with other areas or even to be stronger, and we need assurances that that the braking patterns, the acceleration patterns, the way in which disabled people drive is better understood in the context of this particular measure, and we would recommend that there is an assessment of the equality impacts of the introduction of this particular.
“And this particular technology, particularly in the context of the smoothness aspect, and ensuring that disabled people are actually working alongside Motability and others to ensure that these changes have been co-designed rather than, Disabled, you know, decisions being made without disabled people’s views being considered, and also consideration should be given to reasonable adjustments or exemptions in respect of the smoothness score, when that would be required.
“So while we welcome anything that would bring greater safety to the roads, it’s the compulsory application that raises concerns. Disabled people really value the Motability scheme because it supports independence and confidence. We’re big supporters of Motability, and we think itt’s an amazing scheme that is a lifeline for disabled people, and we just worry that measures like this could discourage, particularly young people from availing of the scheme or older people with younger people in their households who then may be reliant on supporting their access to independent living an iit’s important that disabled people themselves don’t feel that this is about surveillance and we would just ask for caution when anything that could disproportionately impact on disabled people is introduced to make sure that all of the all of the implications are fully understood.
“Because sometimes we’d go down a road, and the unknowns are difficult to predict, and we would be concerned that for some, these measures just may not work.”
Some Scheme users are already using the system. Eva Hanna, a wheelchair user from Ballynahinch, described the setup as straightforward but flagged challenges with the “smoothness” score, which monitors braking and acceleration:
“I drive with hand controls, and the telematics is a bit more sensitive whenever you’re accelerating or braking, and because my car’s new as well, you only have to really tap on the brakes for it to stop and come to a halt,” she said.
“So my smoothness score has been impacted. I just think that feature is a bit temperamental.
“I have checked the app and it’s said you’ve accelerated hard here, or you’ve braked hard here, but sometimes you have to accelerate with hand controls because they’re a bit heavier, and you know, you just have to pull harder at them because it is different from driving with foot pedals.”
Eva also warned that journey limits could affect daily life: “ It’s not like I could push in to just go and get something, you have to drive to go in and get my medication, go to the GP, and that’s something that a lot of disabled people have to do all the time, so I think that flagging more than six daily journeys could really affect it, and if that’s not taken into consideration, that would flag you up and then say that you’re getting a red score, but you’re you’re going places that you need to go.
“I think that you can get points taken down if your drive is over an hour. I’m driving into work every morning, and that takes me about an hour and a half to get in.
“I can’t get a bus, you know, it’s not accessible to get transport or anything like that, so if that’s taken down as well, I just think that has not been taken into consideration that disabled people have different needs, and it’s not one size fits all.”
Motability said the rollout, which began in September 2025, is intended to improve safety and manage rising insurance costs, and that the majority of users will not be affected by red scores due to normal usage. The organisation also provides vehicle adaptations and familiarisation lessons to support drivers with disabilities.
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