Ford given the green light for hands free driving as self-driving system approved for motorway drivers

The government has given the green light to allow Ford to use their hands-free driving enabling the driver to let go of the steering wheel.

The UK is now the first European country to approve hands free and is only available on the 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E which is a pure electric car.

Five infrared radars track the vehicles position and the speed of others on the motorway and a forward facing camera checks the lane markings and that the driver have their eyes on the road should there need to be a human intervention.

The Ford Mustang Mach-E costs from £50,830 and the BlueCruise which allows the hands free driving costs £17.99 per month which is operated from the steering wheel.

Transport minister Jesse Norman 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.”

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.”