[Nfbnet-members-list] Cruise to Sponsor Racecar Driver Dan Parker in National Federation of the Blind’s 2021 Blind Driver Challenge

National Federation of the Blind webmaster at nfb.org
Tue Apr 6 19:00:19 UTC 2021


 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CRUISE TO SPONSOR RACECAR DRIVER DAN PARKER IN NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE
BLIND’S 2021 BLIND DRIVER CHALLENGE

_DAN PARKER, A BLIND MAN, WILL ATTEMPT TO BREAK A WORLD SPEED RECORD IN HIS
CORVETTE AT 201 MPH_

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND (APRIL 5, 2021): The National Federation of the Blind
(NFB) announced today that San Francisco-based zero emission self-driving
company Cruise will sponsor racecar driver Dan Parker in his Fall 2021
attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the "Fastest Speed for a Car
Driven Blindfolded" as part of the Blind Driver Challenge. Parker, who lost
his sight in March 2012, is aiming to reach speeds over 200.5 miles per
hour, which is the current record held by Mike Newton of the United
Kingdom. 

The collaboration is part of the acceleration of the NFB's Blind Driver
Challenge(tm) [2] -- an initiative that aims to call attention to the
importance of breaking barriers in mobility and to demonstrate the
incredible achievements of blind people. 

This year's Blind Driver Challenge builds on the inaugural event that
launched ten years ago when Mark Riccobono, now President of the National
Federation of the Blind, independently operated a modified Ford Escape
hybrid on the Daytona International Speedway Road Course. Mr. Riccobono
navigated the course's turns and steered the car around dynamic obstacles
by following haptic prompts generated by input from the vehicle's GPS,
cameras, and LIDAR sensors. 

Today, as autonomous vehicles offer the potential to unlock independence
for millions of blind people, the Blind Driver Challenge showcases the
opportunity to push the boundaries of what's possible by making history and
by transforming everyday reality. 

"Our Daytona Blind Driver Challenge demonstration changed the perceptions
of blindness held by society, including the perceptions that we ourselves
held as blind people," said Mark Riccobono, President of the National
Federation of the Blind. "It further demonstrated to the world that the
expertise of the blind is critical to the development of nonvisual
interfaces. We are now accelerating the challenge because the need for
urgency in the development and implementation of accessibility in emerging
technology is even greater. Dan Parker will take the demonstration of the
capacity of blind drivers to a new level by driving faster than any blind
person ever. We thank Cruise for its support of this demonstration and look
forward to working with this innovative company and others on new
technology that will ultimately transform the dreams of the blind for
complete freedom of mobility into reality." 

"I am proud and honored to collaborate with the National Federation of the
Blind and Cruise to bring the Guinness Book of World records for fastest
car driven 'blindfolded' home to America. Of course, for me the blindfold
will not be necessary! My 2008 Corvette is a purpose built racecar and I
designed every aspect of it. With the work of the Blind Driver Challenge,
we will not only demonstrate that a blind person can drive a vehicle
safely, but that we can do it at over 200 mph. Together we hope to inspire
blind people and to demonstrate our capacity, make history by setting a new
world record, and show the potential of new technology like self-driving
cars to help blind people break barriers in everyday mobility." 

"The future of autonomous vehicles is making the world more accessible for
blind drivers like Dan, who want to be able to get around in the world on
their own terms," said Rob Grant, Cruise's Senior Vice President of
Government Affairs and Social Impact. "Transportation remains one of the
areas where blind Americans face the greatest obstacles to participation,
and Cruise's mission is to transform the problems in our current
transportation system that aren't accessible or inclusive by creating new
opportunities for all. We're excited to continue our important work with
the National Federation of the Blind and support Dan Parker in this
incredible feat to push the boundaries of what's possible." 

### 

ABOUT THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), headquartered in Baltimore,
defends the rights of blind people of all ages and provides information and
support to families with blind children, older Americans who are losing
vision, and more. Founded in 1940, the NFB is the premier membership and
advocacy organization of blind Americans with affiliates, chapters, and
divisions in the fifty states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. We believe
in the hopes and dreams of blind people and work together to transform them
into reality. Learn more about our many programs and initiatives at nfb.org
[3]. 

ABOUT CRUISE:

Founded and headquartered in San Francisco, Cruise's goal is to drive
change by building the world's most advanced self-driving, all-electric,
shared vehicles that safely connect people to the places, things, and
experiences they care about. Cruise has partnered with NFB to conduct
important research to inform our self-driving technology. 

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen
 Director of Public Relations
 National Federation of the Blind
 (410) 659-9314, extension 2330
 (410) 262-1281 (Cell)
 cdanielsen at nfb.org 

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 		 National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD
21230 | 410-659-9314 

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