Campaign victory! As Motability pause unpopular “Orwellian surveillance” system 

This follows recent meeting between Motability Chiefs, Andrew George MP and Disability Rights campaigner, Keron Day 

West Cornwall MP, Andrew George, and constituent and disability rights campaigner, Keron Day, welcomed news this morning that Motability has accepted their criticisms of a recently introduced and deeply unpopular surveillance system and has agreed to “pause” it. Andrew and Keron said after last Thursday’s meeting at Andrew George’s Penzance office that they were “hopeful” Motability Chiefs would address disabled drivers’ complaints about recent changes to the Motability car leasing system. Motability Chief Executives, Andrew Miller and Nigel Fletcher, who came to Penzance last week, have accepted they should “pause” and “review” the mandatory enforcement of “Drive Smart” technology used for all new leaseholders and drivers under 30.  

Andrew and Keron had criticised Motability for imposing an “invasive telematics tracking technology” without proper consultation, nor adequate safeguards in place. Much of the disability community saw the system as going way beyond what is reasonable. Andrew said it amounts to “Orwellian surveillance”. To use the Drive Smart App, a customer must have a smartphone, the Drive Smart App, always have Bluetooth on, keep their phone with them at all times, keep ‘low battery’ mode off and location services on, AT ALL TIMES. If they don’t have that, then a “black box” is fitted, acting in the same way, but which identifies the vehicle as a Motability lease.  

Andrew 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. However, I’ve also urged them to work with us as we tackle Government ministers to halt the counterproductive tax burden, which will force many disabled people to give up their jobs or enterprise.” 

Keron Day said, “I commend the leadership at Motability for listening to the concerns raised about Drive Smart, recognising the seriousness of the issues for disabled people’s lives — particularly around independence and safeguarding — and acting swiftly to address them.” 

Andrew added, “We’re surprised Motability rolled out this scheme before they’d considered the multiple risks and failures. The impact has been extremely stressful for many who’ve tried to handle the system, and represents disturbingly Orwellian surveillance. It has also caused significant reputational damage to Motability. Pausing it now will help them to turn things around, but it will take much time and effort to repair. Keron has done a brilliant job in promoting and analysing the weaknesses and failures of the system. Today’s announcement is an enormous credit to someone who’s proving to be an impressive and talented campaigner.”  

The system had been criticised for allegedly breaching legal requirements on:  

• data protection,  

• surveillance,  

• human rights,  

• disability discrimination and  

• employment law.  

Campaigners have also pointed to the added jeopardy experienced by Motability drivers, especially since the scheme has been the focus of scapegoating and smears from MPs on the far right, with some making untrue and malicious assertions that Motability is “designed to give £50,000 mercs to bed-wetting boy racers” or “free cars” to “parents whose child cannot sit still in class” (Richard Tice), with another dishonestly asserted that “Motability is a scheme where expensive cars are handed out for conditions like tennis elbow” (Robert Jenrick).  

As a result of these irresponsible and slanderous remarks, disabled people are already getting abuse and even receiving death threats in some cases.