Self-driving Ford car granted approval for hands-free use on British motorways in European first

Britain has become the first country in Europe to approve hands-free driving technology.

The Department for Transport has granted Ford permission to use driver assistance technology in some of its Ford Mustang Mach-E cars along the 2,300 miles (3,700 km) of motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.

The car still requires motorists to pay attention to the road but the driver can take their hands off of the wheel and move their feet away from the pedals.

Those in Mach-E 2023 model cars can subscribe to the hands-free service and 90-day free trials are to be offered.

They can set the speed and the distance they want to travel from the car in front.

Technology in the car monitors road markings, speed signs and traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane position.

It activates when the car detects it is on a motorway and deactivates when it senses the car has exited a motorway.

Approval was granted by the Department for Transport for Ford after the company shared vehicle data and tests were carried out on British roads, and on 100,000 miles of European roads in total.

Testing in Britain featured routes with hazards such as worn-out lane markings, poor weather and roadworks.

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Driver alertness is checked in the car via infrared camera technology.

Such technology has already been approved for use in North America.

Ford described the announcement as a “watershed moment for drivers” and said it expects the technology to be rolled out in other European countries in the coming years.

Lisa Brankin, Ford’s managing director for the UK and Ireland, said: “Today marks a significant moment for our industry as Ford BlueCruise becomes the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in Great Britain.

“We have always strived to make technology accessible for our customers, and BlueCruise is this next step on this journey, making motorway driving a more comfortable experience.”

Transport minister Jesse Norman added: “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.”