Ford launches hands-free driving on UK motorways

Ford drivers volition legally beryllium capable to instrumentality their hands disconnected the instrumentality aft its BlueCruise exertion has been approved successful the UK.

Ministers person approved the "hands-off, eyes-on" exertion for usage connected definite motorways.

It tin power steering, acceleration and braking but a camera volition show a driver's eyes truthful they enactment connected the road.

The exertion volition lone beryllium disposable for 2023 models of its electrical Mustang Mach-E SUV astatine first.

It tin besides support a harmless region from different cars and adjacent bring them to a implicit halt successful postulation jams, though it is lone offered connected a subscription basis.

The archetypal 90 days are included with the acquisition of the £50,830 car but drivers volition past person to motion up for a monthly subscription.

Deliveries of the caller exemplary started past month. It has a maximum velocity of 80mph and uses some cameras and sensors to observe lane markings and velocity signs, arsenic good arsenic the presumption and velocity of different cars connected the road.

Transport Minister Jesse Norman said that helium was delighted the UK was astatine the "forefront of innovation", aft it became the archetypal European state to motion disconnected connected the technology.

"The latest precocious operator assistance systems marque driving smoother and easier, but they tin besides assistance marque roads safer by reducing scope for operator error."