Petition over Motability Smart Drive app requirements for under-30 drivers

[previouslyknownas]

I wasn’t really sure where to post this so hope this is ok

If anyone has a disabled child, or family member please sign this

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/752400?utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv4&fbclid=Iwc3NjcARX8c9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEem7z_Q16WCZwZHcfp7NKoVMXdUoAC8PWvgEGBCfjpupOP8mJ_qDnFDQHbtWo_aem_52Mq00KlMhnzjw-nY6S85w

Motobility in line with there insurers direct line require all new drivers to the scheme along with anyone who is under 30 or has a driver under 30 to have a blue tooth wedge in the car and download an app

it’s called smart drive app

This app requires you and all the drivers to have an app on your phone on the insurance
& to keep Bluetooth & WiFi on 24/7 to monitor the driving

Fair enough - you would think as younger drivers are often more likely to have an accident

However even if your not the disabled person but your under 30 and named as a driver you have to add the app and keep it on 24/7

example your son is 27 has a mobility car
so has to have the wedge / app which seems fair

But you are 52 and you also have to have app as you are your sons main driver

so by downloading the app you are monitored as well

This will affect carers who drive the car for the disabled person even if they are over 30 if one person on the car is under 30 everyone named has to have the app

The app is problematic in that it not accurate
actually recording someone who drove ( supposedly ) drove over a roundabout and another person was shown on the app to be walking around Tescos

if you turn off the Bluetooth you will get constant texts and emails telling you to
turn it on as your breaking the terms & conditions

Quite a few people have had there car taken back in the last month due to this

along with being scored on driving acceleration and deceleration you get a red mark if you drive after 11pm -5 am

if you drive more than an hour
if you have more than six trips in a day

you get a red score
2 weeks of constant red scores and you can lose your car

4 weeks of red score over 12 months and you can lose your car

although they say red scores due to usage isn’t counted it tanks the average score

Along with the reduction of mileage and the raised price of excess milage this app is causing huge distress for many people especially those who live rural those that children attend special schools are often miles away
hospital appointments can easily be in the next county

I am not disabled so this won’t affect me but I have a several friends and a family member who are disabled and this will affect them

Wow that doesn’t sound like Motability, they’re usually so decent and understanding. I could understand under 21, mayyyyybe 25 at a push but 30?! What if a disabled driver works night shifts? Plenty do (and as you know, PIP is payable regardless of whether you work or not). That’s crazy.

I’m a Motability customer but thankfully I’ve not had one sent. The mileage reduction doesn’t affect me either (thankfully) so I won’t comment on that aspect. I do agree this is going too far though.

I’m a support worker and drive clients Motability cars. Lots of my colleagues are under 30 and drive them too. If this comes into force for us I think most of us will refuse to drive which will restrict the lives and opportunities of our clients.

I have this app as my dd also drives my car.

it has a lot of issues. I have actually bought another cheapo phone to keep in the car on permanent charge to fix the Bluetooth issues.

i think I’m getting the hang of how it scores you but yes it gives you bad scores for driving above the do speed limit but unfortunately it doesn’t always know what the speed limit is (there’s a road I drive on it thinks is 80 and another it thinks is 10 - they are both 30).

lots and lots of issues.

It's to reduce their insurance costs, I don't see a problem with getting a motability car, insurance included and having to abide by some rules to keep down their costs.

It's a benefit and requires some cooperation.

That would be ok if the app and device didn’t have so many problems,

if it worked it’d be ok.

Your petition has no mention of the app at all and is centred on the reduced mileage allowance mainly, along with the advanced payments to a cetain extent.
The smart drive app should, in theory, help to keep insurance costs down.
You mention red scores for driving longer than an hour but..
"In a new response, Motability confirmed that high usage in a week can trigger a red alert but insisted there are no limits on numbers of journeys. It added that if high usage alone does trigger a red score it will not impact the lease."
A red week only puts your lease at risk if it is caused by consistently dangerous driving behavior (such as extreme speeding or harsh braking) over consecutive weeks.
Motability says that safe motorists (those maintaining green status) could receive up to £160 annually in rewards to spend.

You're being very misleading OP. Firstly, the app is a good idea if it reduces insurance costs. Secondly, the petition has absolutely nothing to do with your post. The app isn't even mentioned in it. So the thread title, and all your talk about the inaccuracies of the app, and the unfairness of monitoring driving time by carers is completely irrelevent.

It’s all relevant as it’s all to do with the changes that will affect Motobility customers and there carers

the app is just one of the many things that have been changed

i agree many many people are worried about different parts of the new rules

the app is rubbish and not accurate at all
a lot of people are doing what you have done is to leave a cheap car in the phone to avoid being tracked at home

It’s already in place
it started on the 13 the April for the use of the app officially
if anyone is under 30 including carers / family
Or it’s a new lease

you will be required to use the app and the Bluetooth wedge be sent out

even if only one person is under 30
everyone on the insurance has to have the app and you are required by direct line to keep the Bluetooth on 24/7

if you don’t it’s breach of the T&C with direct line
and that person can be removed from the insurance

It’s ridiculous, OP. DD is a named driver on my policy - the app tracked her whilst on a flight!! 🤣 Will be getting rid of my Motability car once my current lease ends and self funding a car of my own using PIP money. It will cost the same without the insane restrictions and lack of privacy.

I know it’s crap

Ask for a fitted box
they are much more accurate and don’t require an app so you aren’t tracked
people are saying that they have a bad signal
where they live to get the fitted box