Washington, July 16 - A student team in the Virginia Tech College of Engineering is providing the blind with an opportunity many never thought possible -- the opportunity to drive.

A retrofitted four-wheel dirt buggy, designed by them, uses laser range finders, an instant voice command interface and a host of other innovative, cutting-edge technology to guide blind drivers as they steer, brake, and accelerate.

Although it is in the early testing stage, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) -- which spurred the project -- considers the vehicle a major breakthrough for independent living of the visually impaired.

'It was great!' said Wes Majerus, of Baltimore, the first blind person to drive the buggy on a closed course at the Virginia Tech campus this summer.

Majerus called his drive a liberating experience. Sitting inside the vehicle, a blind driver can turn the steering wheel, stop and accelerate by following data from a computing unit that uses sensory information from the laser range finder serving as the 'eyes' of the driver, besides a combination of voice commands and a vibrating vest as guides.