British authorities have approved Ford’s semi-autonomous driving technology, BlueCruise. This means Ford drivers can now legally let go of the wheel on some motorways, BBC reports.
BlueCruise can steer, accelerate and brake. The system is now the first to be approved for hands-free driving on the 3,700 kilometres of motorways in England, Scotland and Wales. The system allows drivers to let go of the wheel but requires them to remain attentive. A camera monitors the driver’s eyes.
It does not allow for the use of a mobile phone or for the driver to sleep at the wheel. If the system detects that the driver is not fully attentive, the car will repeatedly prompt the driver to put their hands back on the wheel or gradually come to a stop.
Drivers will be able to set the speed they want to travel at, as well as the distance from the car in front of them. The technology monitors road signs and traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane position.
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For now, BlueCruise technology is only available across the UK on the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E. Owners of these cars will be able to use semi-autonomous driving for free during the first three months, after which a £17.99/month subscription is required.
BlueCruise has already been available in the US and Canada since 2021. According to the US carmaker, 190,000 Ford and Lincoln vehicles have already travelled almost 100 million kilometres with the technology. No accidents with the system have been reported.
