RNIB warns accessibility must be built into self-driving ridehail rollout from the outset
- Perry Richardson
- Jun 28
- 3 min read
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has urged government and autonomous vehicle developers to ensure accessibility is embedded into self-driving ridehail services from the outset, as public pilots are expected to begin on London’s streets in the coming months.
The charity’s Head of Policy, Mike Wordingham, joined parliamentarians and industry representatives at a panel event hosted by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Self-Driving Vehicles to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by autonomous taxi services. RNIB is one of the APPG’s sponsors and used the event to highlight the priorities of blind and partially sighted people ahead of any wider deployment.
Wordingham said self-driving passenger services could offer a valuable new transport option for people with sight loss, provided accessibility and safety are treated as fundamental design requirements rather than later additions.
He 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.”
He added that the Department for Transport (DfT) and industry should work directly with blind and partially sighted people as pilots move closer, warning that inclusive design could unlock greater independence, while poor implementation risked creating new barriers across the transport network.
Self-driving vehicles, sometimes referred to as robotaxis, are app-booked vehicles that complete journeys without a human driver on board, using cameras, sensors and onboard computing systems to navigate.
Commercial services already operate in several cities in the United States, while the UK is preparing for public trials.
RNIB said feedback gathered through an ongoing survey shows opinion among blind and partially sighted people is divided. Some respondents welcomed the possibility of more spontaneous and flexible travel, while others questioned how they would locate the correct vehicle, board safely, communicate with remote support and travel independently after being dropped off.
The charity also highlighted mixed views about the role of traditional taxi and private hire drivers. Some respondents believed autonomous services could reduce incidents of guide dog refusals, while others feared losing the additional assistance human drivers often provide.
One respondent said: “The disappearance of human-driven taxis could be a huge problem for those who find self-driving taxis inaccessible.”
Another commented: “Autonomous taxis may help reduce the hassle of being refused access by a taxi driver when travelling with a guide dog.”
RNIB acknowledged that the long-term impact on conventional taxi services remains uncertain but said it would continue monitoring developments as autonomous services are introduced.
Beyond passengers, the charity stressed that pedestrian safety must remain central to any rollout because blind and partially sighted people will inevitably share streets with autonomous vehicles regardless of whether they choose to use them. It said self-driving vehicles must reliably detect vulnerable pedestrians, including guide dogs, long canes and people stepping into the road to avoid pavement obstructions. The organisation also raised concerns that quiet electric autonomous vehicles may require effective audible warning systems to improve awareness for people with sight loss.
RNIB’s position is that self-driving passenger operators should provide clear evidence that their vehicles can operate safely around vulnerable pedestrians before any public pilot begins. The charity said disabled people should be involved in designing and evaluating services throughout development to help ensure autonomous transport is both accessible and safe as deployment progresses.
