The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has told UK parliamentarians that accessibility and safety must be designed into self-driving ridehail services before London’s autonomous taxi pilots begin, not added afterwards.
- RNIB’s Head of Policy joined a panel hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Self-Driving Vehicles, urging the Department for Transport and industry to work directly with blind and partially sighted people ahead of any rollout.
- Concerns raised include finding and boarding the correct vehicle, communicating with remote support, and navigating unfamiliar streets safely after being dropped off.
- The charity also wants reliable detection of guide dogs and canes, plus audible warning systems on quiet electric vehicles, to protect pedestrians with sight loss who will share streets with these vehicles regardless of whether they use them.
Why it matters: How self-driving taxis are designed now will decide whether they open up new independence for blind and partially sighted people, or create fresh barriers to transport that are hard to undo once services launch.
Source: TaxiPoint →
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