When Royal Navy aircraft engineer Jamie Weller lost his sight more than 20 years ago, the Invictus Games competitor thought he’d never be behind the wheel of a car ever again.

Losing his entire central vision due to sunlight exposure, the Nottingham veteran rebuilt his life and even reached Everest base camp, but the thought of driving seemed a step too far.

But now due to advances in autonomous technology developed by Jaguar Land Rover, as part of the UK Autodrive consortium, the 48-year-old had the chance to take a passenger ride in the latest self-driving car technology, which could one-day allow people like him to drive their own vehicles safely.

He did so by making history too, as part of the first long-term project in which self-driving cars are being trialled on UK roads, an experience Weller was delighted to be a part of.

“For me this autonomous technology is something I am really interested in and it will have a major impact on my life,” said the four-time Invictus Games bronze medallist.

“I can’t drive and I have to get around using public transport. I have to get on trains, taxis and buses, so my whole day is dictated by public transport.

“Being independent can only be a positive thing. Being able to get around when I want to get around and not when public transport says I need to travel would be a massive thing.

“It is life changing. It would be a really big thing for safety on the roads. If cars have autonomous technology it would improve road safety and reduce accidents, which can only be a plus.”

The visually impaired father had the opportunity to experience a level 4 autonomous Range Rover Sport on UK roads, as well as provide Jaguar Land Rover’s Customer Insights Team with feedback on how autonomous technology could help the lives of disabled people in the future.

Able to experience the incredible new innovation first-hand, Weller championed the role that the technology could play in helping disabled people rediscover their independence.

As an aircraft engineer and four-time Invictus Games medallist, new experiences are not uncommon for Weller, but even he couldn’t help but be amazed at a project he found truly extraordinary.

“I am an open-minded guy. I ski down slopes at 70 mph, so I am not scared about things going wrong. I was more intrigued about knowing how it was going to work,” he added.

“In ten years’ time hopefully we will be at a point where our level five cars are completely autonomous and take you somewhere.

“I am an engineer and I love new technology. Anything that can help my life I get massively excited about it.

“It was a surreal experience. All of a sudden the car started driving itself.

“My guide dog is a bit worried about not having a job! I don’t think he wanted me to go and have this experience.”

Jaguar Land Rover is the Presenting Partner of the Invictus Games, which takes place in Sydney, Australia from the 20th to 27th of October 2018. Jaguar Land Rover is using this year’s Invictus Games to lead and inform the debate on future mobility, and how its future technology could help people’s lives.