US based transportation network company, Lyft, and Ireland based Auto parts company, Aptiv, headquarter in US, noted the partnership with National Federation of Blind, to expand the limited pilot to include low vision and blind riders.
Aptiv is already working with Lyft and running autonomous driving trials in Las Vegas. Aptiv has also announced the launch of 30 autonomous vehicles on the Lyft network.
Lyft and National Federation of Blind have already been working together to ensure that core ride-hailing product is accessible to blind or low vision riders. Autonomous ride-hailing network is available as an option to these visually impaired passengers with more accessible features. The feature list includes Braille guides for the riders in self-driving vehicles, which provide detailed information about the route and about the vehicle itself. These advance sensors have been installed all across the vehicle to provide the complete and real-time information to the riders as they participate.
The biggest potential benefit of autonomous driving is that it allows the people to use vehicles who wouldn’t be able to drive, including the people with epilepsy, low vision, and older drivers.
In the same order, Volkswagen, a leading automotive manufacturing company, has also taken a step forward with the launch of Inclusive Mobility Initiative, which is including disability groups in its planning and designing processes. Volkswagen took the initiative by signing the disability advocacy organizations as its partners, which includes the National Federation of the Blind, the National Association of the Deaf, and the Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF).
Scott Keogh, the President, and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America states, “Transportation is the key to full participation in society”. He added, “And for individuals with disabilities today, the options can be limited. Volkswagen is known as the people’s car company, and as technology allows, we want to design vehicles that are more accessible.”
