RiDC’s ground-breaking research into how to make automated transport more accessible for disabled people has been recognised at the Self Driving Industry Awards.
Developed in partnership with TRL, a global centre for innovation in surface transport and mobility, and funded by the Motability Foundation, the project explored how disabled people could become regular users of self-driving vehicles.
However, it sounded a warning that, without careful consideration, automated transport systems could replicate or even exacerbate existing barriers transport systems present to disabled people.
With detailed feedback from members of our consumer panel, the report illustrates the need for designers to ensure the development of transport technologies and services is inclusive.
The project was the winner in the ‘Design’ category in the Self Driving Industry Awards 2024 that were held in Margate on Friday 22nd November. The awards were hosted by Cars of the Future.
Its editor, Neil Kennett, on behalf of the judging panel, said:
“We are delighted to present our 2024 Design Award to TRL and the Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) for their ground-breaking project to ‘support the development of inclusive automated transport technologies and services by understanding the needs, perceptions, and challenges faced by disabled people’.
“To deliver on the oft-quoted benefit of increasing mobility for those who can’t or shouldn’t drive, we must ensure that self-driving vehicles are indeed accessible for everyone, not just 80% of the population.”
RiDC’s CEO, Gordon McCullough, and Assistant Director of Research, Indigo Ayling, received the award. Gordon commented:
“We’d like to thank the Motability Foundation for funding this work, and of course our colleagues at TRL for all their hard work on this project. But I would like to give special thanks to our 4,000 strong consumer panel and to all the participants in this research who provided so many insights and challenges for the AV sector to consider.”
You can download the full report on the project from our website.
