Telegraph — 2023-04-13
Automotive Industry
Drivers will be able to legally let go of their steering wheels for the first time on British roads after Ford introduced a hands-free system to its electric cars.
The Department for Transport has approved the American giant’s “BlueCruise” system, which automatically adjusts speed, steers round corners and brakes while driving on motorways – although the car will warn drivers if they take their eyes off the road, and overtaking is not permitted.
BlueCruise will only work on motorways in England, Wales and Scotland, using location sensors to register when the vehicle is on approved roads.
Once enabled, the system will drive at speeds of up to 70mph, using radar and cameras to adjust speed and change position in a driving lane.
The system will be able to adapt to variable speed limits and come to a halt in traffic jams. It can adjust its position in the lane, for example when a large vehicle is passing, but not change lanes.
BlueCruise will use an infrared camera to ensure drivers are paying attention to the road.
Drivers will be monitored using an infrared camera to ensure they are still paying attention to the road and the system will show warning messages and audible alerts before slowing down the vehicle if it thinks the driver has been distracted.
Drivers are not legally permitted to use their mobile phone or otherwise take their attention away from the road.
Ford said it had carried out 100,000 miles of testing that had shown the system was able to handle worn-out lane markings, roadworks and poor weather that are mainstays of driving in Britain.
It will cost £17.99 a month for access to the service, which will for now only be available to owners of its Mustang Mach-E electric car.
The announcement is expected to kick off a rush to launch hands-free driving systems in Britain, which are a key step towards fully driverless vehicles. Toyota, Nissan and BMW have all unveiled plans for their own hands-free features.
Driver assistance software such as Tesla’s Autopilot already exist in the UK but require the driver to have hands on the wheel at all times.
Jesse Norman, the transport minister, said: “It is great news that Ford has chosen Great Britain for the European launch of their 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 make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.”
Motorists using BlueCruise will still be liable in the event of an accident, with Ford saying the driver remains legally in control of the car. The company said 64 million miles have been driven using the software in the US without an incident.
The system can be activated only on 2,300 miles of designated “BlueZones”, representing almost all of the motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.
When leaving a motorway, motorists will be prompted to once again take control of the steering wheel.
The system is only available on the 2023 model of the Mustang Mach-E electric SUV, which costs £50,830 and up. Ford said owners would get 90 days free when buying the car and would then have to pay £17.99 a month for the upgrade.
Ford has launched the system after securing a UK exemption to UN driving regulations that require drivers to have their hands on the steering wheel at all times.
The rules are expected to be amended next year, allowing a flurry of manufacturers to launch hands-free systems.
Ford said it had undertaken many hours of testing with the Department for Transport and Vehicle Certification Agency ahead of seeking approval.