Driving experience for visually impaired drivers at BMW Driver Training.

Munich. Sascha Schulze cannot see what he is doing. He has to feel the gear
lever and change gear by touch, but he still grips the steering wheel
resolutely with both hands. When he accelerates, goes round a corner and during
braking, he experiences the force of gravity which pushes and pulls him. Sascha
Schulze has been blind since birth. During his everyday life, a guide dog shows
him where to go, today he is placing his trust in the BMW instructor who is
sitting next to him in the vehicle and calmly telling him what he should do
next. BMW Driver Training provides the opportunity for this unusual opportunity
at the Munich Airport training site. There's lots of space to move around and
the vehicle is equipped with pedals on the passenger side. This scenario
provides the perfect framework for an unforgettable driving experience.

Sascha Schulze opens the door and is greeted by his dog. He summarises his
impressions: "For me as a person who has been blind since birth, this is an
incredible experience - just to sit behind the wheel myself. The freedom and
mobility which the automobile gives people able to see is impossible for a
blind person to achieve, even with public transport. There are lots of times
when I've wanted to be able to drive at times and places when I want to.
However, since that will never be possible for me, an event like driving for
blind and visually impaired people offers the opportunity to at enjoy the
feeling of freedom at the wheel of a car at least for a little while."

After driving themselves in a car, the participants get another surprise. The
instructors at Driver Training invite them for a ride in the X5. The car climbs
into an obstacle circuit with steep ups and downs, and tight bends. These are
so steep that you cannot open the doors on the mountain side. The X5 still has
adequate reserves even if the passengers are thinking: "This can't be
possible". You might assume the same if you reflected on whether people with
visual impairment would be able to drive - But this is possible!

BMW Driver Training offers a wide range of training courses. However, the
driving experience for visually impaired people is not part of the standard
programme. It was held in cooperation with the Bavarian Association for Blind
and Visually Impaired People. You can find out about the standard programme
operated by BMW Driver Training by going onto the Internet and clicking on
www.bmw.de/fahrertraining. Press releases and the press kit entitled "BMW Group
Driving Experience" can be accessed by clicking on www.press.bmwgroup.com.