Hands-free driving has been approved for the first time in Great Britain, with the use of Ford’s driver assistance technology.
The Department for Transport approved the car giant’s ‘BlueCruise’ technology for use on 2,300 miles of motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.
The ‘hands-off, eyes-on’ system can control steering, acceleration and braking by monitoring road markings, speed signs and changing traffic conditions.
Image: Ford
Infrared camera technology checks whether the driver’s eyes remain on the road. If it detects that the driver is not paying attention, warning messages are displayed, followed by audible alerts and then the vehicle will slow down while steering control is maintained.
Martin Sander, general manager at Ford Model e, Europe, said the approval was ‘a significant step forward for our industry.’
He added: ‘Modern highways can be demanding even for the most confident drivers, and intimidating for many. BlueCruise can do some of the “heavy lifting”, to make highway driving less of a chore, and give drivers that little extra confidence and convenience.’
Ford said it has done 100,000 miles of testing of its latest driver assistance systems in Europe, including BlueCruise. In Great Britain, it checked that the technology was able to deal with conditions like worn-out lane markings, poor weather and roadworks.
The hands-free system was introduced in the US and Canada last year. Transport minister Jesse Norman said: ‘It is great news that Ford has chosen us for the European launch of its BlueCruise technology, and I am delighted that this country is once more at the forefront of innovation.
‘The latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.’
RAC road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: ‘While the thought of taking your hands off the wheel goes against everything drivers have been taught, this technology has the potential to make our roads much safer.
‘Too many motorway accidents result from drivers going into the back of other vehicles or drifting from their lanes, so systems that can prevent these issues from happening should help avoid countless collisions.
‘The use of cameras to monitor drivers’ eyes and head positions to ensure they remain alert overcomes the major concern many will have with not having either hand on the wheel.’
Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E model year 2023 vehicles in Great Britain are the first to be able to activate BlueCruise via subscription. The first 90 days are included with the vehicle purchase, after which there is a £17.99 monthly subscription.
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