The computer and motoring industries are ready to launch a wave of AI driverless vehicles on the roads, meaning blind and other disabled people could own and use their own vehicle to take them anywhere with no assistance from another human.
The news emerged during a debate of industry experts about the future of driving and the move to so-called driverless vehicles, which are pre-programmed to drive the vehicle for the owner and any other passengers.
Dr John Baruch, of the Artificial Intelligence Research Group at Bradford University, said the computer-controlled vehicles would revolutionise car safety and open up driving to everyone within a decade.
He said: "Someone texted me saying they were blind and they wanted this because they will finally be able to travel somewhere on their own.
"It would be the same for people with brain injuries and other disabilities that currently stop them driving.
"You would just get in and say I want to go home and it would deposit you there."
He said in the UK six people die a day in car accidents, with more than half of these children, and autonomous cars, which were pre-programmed could prevent the bulk of these deaths and also ease congestion.
He added: "they can go through taffic lights, distinguish between a rock and bag in the road and deal with fog etc. The technology has been there for ten years."
A debate on driverless vehicles at the university heard that soon after the introduction of driverless cars, all forms of transport are likely to become fully automated.
Liz Green, BBC Leeds breakfast show presenter, who chaired the debate, said: "The experts say trains, trucks, cars and even aircraft will be controlled by autonomous robots and It will transform the way we live our lives."
The industry aims to make automated vehicles which can use the existing road network with conventional cars.
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