Technology is driving forward at a blinding pace. At some point in the future, you may be sharing the road with blind drivers. Next January, the National Federation of the Blind and Virginia Tech plan to unveil a prototype vehicle equipped with technology that will allow blind people to drive.

They’ve tricked out a Ford Escape SUV with “nonvisual interface technology,” which uses laser sensors that operate much like sonar, plus various transmitters, vibrating gloves and devices releasing compressed air. Together, these functions will help communicate surroundings to the driver. The prototype vehicle is designed to allow the blind to drive independently – not be driven around in it.

While the reality of blind drivers hitting the road is quite a few years away, the technological possibility hasn’t escaped the attention of the insurance industry. Many representatives of major car insurance companies decline to talk about how they’ll figure out car insurance rates for blind drivers. But they admit they’ll have to face up to the challenge some day.

Presently, most car insurers don’t have specific pricing guidelines for drivers who are visually or hearing impaired. For example, California insurers offer coverage to most drivers with auditory disabilities. If a deaf driver has a valid driver’s license, an insurance policy is offered at the same rates as those without a hearing impairment, says Peter Moraga, spokesperson for the Insurance Information Network of California. It’s possible that the same may apply to blind drivers who seek car insurance quotes in the future.

“Our guidelines are based on what is current today,” says Kate Hollcraft, spokesperson for Allstate Insurance. “Both the car in development and a driver who cannot see are currently just concepts. [But] if the car goes to market and states issue licenses to drivers who are blind, I’m sure we’ll explore both factors in our guidelines.”

She notes that Allstate requires customers to have a valid driver’s