The special event was staged at the Ford Development Centre in Cologne, to help blind and visually impaired persons gain a greater understanding of vehicles and traffic.
Dr Wolfgang Schneider of Ford of Europe said "In traffic situations, people with visual impairments orient themselves using sounds, so it is easy for them to misjudge the size and speed of cars." He said we want to help resolve such problems by encouraging greater participation in traffic that can leave us all more enlightened and confident.
With new technology developing rapidly - including camera- and radar-based safety systems, advanced satellite navigation systems, and vehicle-to-vehicle communications - the possibility that blind and visually impaired persons could one day drive is increasing.
"Technology is progressing so fast that blind and visually impaired people will perhaps be able to experience greater freedom behind the wheel in just 15 or 20 years," Dr Schneider said.
