Lyft to offer AV service for blind riders

Lyft has joined forces with Aptiv and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to bring self-driving technology to its blind and low-vision riders in Las Vegas. The deal extends an agreement last year, in which Aptiv launched 30 autonomous vehicles (AVs) to pick up riders using Lyft’s app. NFB president Mark Riccobono says: “This demonstration will allow future blind drivers to experience and begin providing feedback about this technology, paving the way for the development of a non-visual user in
July 23, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Lyft has joined forces with Aptiv and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to bring self-driving technology to its blind and low-vision riders in Las Vegas.

The deal extends an %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 link-external agreement false https://www.itsinternational.com/categories/utc/news/aptiv-to-deploy-avs-in-las-vegas-on-the-lyft-network/ false false%> last year, in which Aptiv launched 30 autonomous vehicles (AVs) to pick up riders using Lyft’s app.

NFB president Mark Riccobono says: “This demonstration will allow future blind drivers to experience and begin providing feedback about this technology, paving the way for the development of a non-visual user interface and other inclusive design elements.”

Lyft worked with non-profit organisation Lighthouse for Blind and Visually Impaired to create Braille guides for riders and a Braille map for the self-driving route as well as a diagram of Aptiv’s AVs.

Braille is a system of raised dots which can be read by the fingers of people who are blind or who have low vision.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Most pedestrian detection systems ‘hit pedestrians at 30mph’
    October 14, 2019
    In-car automatic emergency braking systems with pedestrian detection mostly fail to avoid hitting pedestrians - and are “completely ineffective at night”, according to new research. In shocking findings, the American Automobile Association (AAA) revealed that most systems hit a simulated pedestrian target at 30mph. A collision also occurred 89% of the time when a vehicle operating at 20mph encountered a child darting between two cars. In tests, all vehicles collided with an adult pedestrian immediately fo
    Read More
  • Grab Ventures and NUS launch e-scooter service at Singapore campus
    November 26, 2018
    Grab Ventures has launched a three-month electric scooter pilot at the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Kent Ridge campus for three months. The subsidiary of technology firm Grab says it offers a green transportation option for NUS staff and students. The scooters are available at eight parking locations on the campus. Grab intends to increase this number to 30 by the end of December. Professor Yong Kwet Yew, NUS senior vice president, says the partnership provides a last-mile transportation op
    Read More
  • Test
    August 10, 2016
    %$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 4 9782 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Events (Diary)
    Read More
  • Test
    August 10, 2016
    %$Linker: 2 Internal <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 4 9782 0 oLinkInternal <span class="oLinkInternal"><span class="oLinkInternal">RSS</span></span> Events (Diary)
    Read More

Highlighted Content