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Motability has issued an alert to motorists regarding a ‘two week rule’ that could see them stripped of their vehicles. The service, which supplies lease cars to disabled individuals, has this week introduced new technology for all new applicants and anyone with a person aged under 30 named on the lease agreement.

Drivers will be obliged to fit black boxes in their cars and download an app to the mobile phone of every individual who operates the vehicle. Cars will be equipped with telematics devices that monitor driving behaviour, including speed and braking patterns, generating a weekly score of green, amber or red.

Those who accumulate four red ratings within a 12-month period could face removal from the Motability scheme. A trial programme in Northern Ireland last year resulted in vehicles being withdrawn from 300 people. The scheme has now confirmed that should a driver receive a ‘red’ week alert, followed by the same rating for two consecutive weeks, they risk losing their vehicle.

Motability guidance states: “Where a driver records a red week, both the customer and the relevant driver will receive feedback. If the driver continues to drive dangerously, despite the feedback, for two consecutive weeks, or four over the course of 12 months, then they may be removed from the Scheme.”

Motability has confirmed it will record and transmit a driver’s precise location, direction and current speed; journey duration; braking and steering manoeuvres; mobile phone usage, including handset make and identification number and software platform, while at the wheel; and device background positioning via network and GPS.

In a new statement, Motability has acknowledged that ‘high usage’ during a week can trigger a red alert, but stressed there are ‘no limits’ on the number of journeys. The organisation added that if elevated usage alone prompts a red score, ‘it will not impact the lease’.

The company stated that the Drive Smart scheme, which launched on 13 April, ‘will not impact a customer’s lease if they are driving safely regardless of how many journeys they take, how long they drive for or at what time they drive.

It’s also worth noting that Drive Smart comprises a windscreen-mounted device paired with a mobile phone application, rather than a black box location tracking system.

A spokesperson for Motability Operations, which administers the Motability Scheme, explained: “The Motability Scheme was created to keep disabled people mobile. Those using Drive Smart do not have limits placed on how many journeys they make, for how long they travel or at what time they drive. However, from industry data we know that these factors do contribute to the likelihood of an accident.

“While high usage can trigger a red week in a small number of cases, where it is the only reason for a red score, it will not impact the lease. Drive Smart does not penalise vehicle use but has been designed to use telemetry data to support and reward safer driving. We continue to listen to customer feedback about Drive Smart and are continually reviewing how it works to make sure it’s as effective as possible.” Upon receiving the device, which is small enough to pass through a letterbox, users will get an email explaining the registration procedure via a smartphone app. Motability has confirmed: “Just so you know, you’ve got 10 days to complete setup and start using the app.”

In addition to the black box system, Motability has issued recommendations proposing motorists should rest every hour and seek to limit themselves to six trips daily. Surpassing this limit will generate a red score for the motorist, although it won’t influence their lease arrangement. The charity has also halved the annual mileage allowance before drivers face extra charges.

Motorists will now be allowed to travel 10,000 miles before paying 25p on any mileage covered beyond that limit. The former allowance was set at 20,000 miles with a surplus charge of 5p per mile. According to Motability, its typical motorists cover 7,500 miles annually, while Scotland’s version of the scheme was continuing to evaluate the threshold.

A red week is triggered by persistently dangerous driving conduct – including extreme speeding. A single isolated incident, such as emergency braking or a red journey, will not activate a red week on its own.