Autonomous Vehicle

A vehicle equipped with technology that enables it to navigate and operate without human input, ranging from partial automation features like adaptive cruise control to fully autonomous systems that handle all driving tasks. Autonomous vehicles represent a potentially transformative technology for people with disabilities and older adults who cannot currently drive, offering new possibilities for independent mobility. However, current AV development largely focuses on occupants who can already drive, and human-machine interfaces are being designed without accessibility standards, risking the creation of transportation technology that excludes the people who would benefit most. Accessibility considerations include wheelchair-accessible vehicle entry and exit, multimodal interfaces (visual, auditory, tactile, Braille) for communicating vehicle status, and inclusive design of ride-hailing and routing systems.