RNIB joins panel in Parliament on self-driving taxi services

The event, hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Self-Driving Vehicles, brought together parliamentarians, industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the potential benefits of self-driving taxi services, and the regulatory and practical steps needed before these services are used more widely. RNIB is one of the sponsors of this All Party Parliamentary Group.

Mike Wordingham, RNIB’s Head of Policy, said:

“Self-driving taxis could become a new transport option for blind and partially sighted people, but only if accessibility and safety are treated as essential from the very beginning. The first few metres and the last few metres of any journey matter just as much as the journey itself. People with sight loss need to be able to find the vehicle they have booked, get in and out safely, access support when they need it, and navigate the streets around them with confidence.

“As public pilots move closer, it is vital that the Department for Transport and industry work directly with blind and partially sighted people to understand both the opportunities and the risks. If this technology is designed inclusively, it could open up new possibilities. If it is not, it risks creating new barriers on our streets and in our transport system.”

Using a self-driving taxi

“Self-driving taxis” refers to a service you would request on your smartphone, to get a ride equivalent to a taxi but that has no person in the car other than you (and any other passengers with you) throughout the whole journey, relying on computers, cameras and sensors to navigate the road. These already operate in some US cities.

For many blind and partially sighted people, driving is not an option, and public transport can be unreliable, inaccessible or unavailable. Self-driving taxis could offer a new way to travel independently, especially for people who are currently excluded from some journeys, but the potential benefits will only be realised if accessibility and safety are designed into services from the start.

In a current survey, blind and partially sighted people have been sharing mixed views with RNIB about this emerging technology. Some are excited about the possibility of more spontaneous and flexible travel, while others have understandable concerns about how they would find the vehicle they have booked, board it safely, communicate with support staff, and navigate from the drop-off point to their final destination.

We’ve also heard from people with sight loss about the significance of human taxi drivers. While some have welcomed an end to guide dog refusals that a self-driving taxi would provide, others express concern about a potential reduction in human drivers due to the additional support they provide on top of the journey itself.

Comments have included:

“The disappearance of human-driven taxis could be a huge problem for those who find self-driving taxis inaccessible.”

“Autonomous taxis may help reduce the hassle of being refused access by a taxi driver when travelling with a guide dog.”

At the moment it remains uncertain the extent to which human operated taxis will be impacted, however RNIB will monitor this when deployment rolls out across London.

Sharing streets safely

While passengers may choose whether or not to use a self-driving taxi, pedestrians will have no choice about sharing streets with them. This makes pedestrian safety vital to any rollout. Like other electric vehicles, self-driving vehicles could be difficult for people with sight loss to hear unless they have effective added sound. They must also be able to reliably detect and respond to blind and partially sighted pedestrians, including guide dogs, long canes and people who may need to step into the road to avoid pavement obstructions.

For some, the arrival of this new form of transport compounds the existing challenges they regularly experience:

“Blind & VI people like my mother and I are already facing perilous danger on an almost daily basis, due to wheeled vehicles ,bikes and e-scooters on the pavements, and vehicles parking and obstructing pavements. Unless there is a nationwide change to ensure our pavements are safe for vulnerable and all pedestrians… I do not think there should be a rollout of any driverless vehicles.”

RNIB’s position is that before any public pilot begins, there should be clear evidence from self-driving taxi providers that vehicles can operate safely around vulnerable pedestrians.

These services need to be shaped with blind and partially sighted people, not simply brought upon them once the technology is already in use, which is why RNIB is an active participant in events such as this and is engaging with both government and industry. Co-producing with disabled people, including blind and partially sighted people, will help to ensure safety for passengers and pedestrians, and greater reliability across providers.

Share your views

There is still time to share your hopes and concerns for self-driving vehicles through this short survey.