A self-driving car has been granted approval for hands-free use on 95 percent of Britain's major motorways.
The Ford Mustang Mach-E 2023 model with the manufacturer's BlueCruise self-driving technology has been given the go-ahead for usage on some 2,300 miles of motorways. Experts believe that this could be a first step towards making motorway driving safer.
The hands free service does not come on Ford Mustang Mach-E cars as standard, but owners can subscribe to a service with a 90-day free trial.
"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," said Lisa Brankin, managing director, Ford UK & Ireland.
"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."
When hands off driving is activated, the cars will go no faster than 80 mph and will use a combination of radars and cameras to detect and track the position and speed of other vehicles on the road.
"It is great news that Ford has chosen us for the European launch of its BlueCruise technology, and I am delighted that this country is once more at the forefront of innovation," said Jesse Norman, UK Transport Minister.
The Transport Minister adds that the technology could reduce risk of accidents on motorways by eliminating the "scope for driver error."
RAC road safety spokesperson Simon Williams said: "While the thought of taking your hands off the wheel goes against everything drivers have been taught, this technology has the potential to make our roads much safer.
"Too many motorway accidents result from drivers going into the back of other vehicles or drifting from their lanes, so systems that can prevent these issues from happening should help avoid countless collisions.
"The use of cameras to monitor drivers’ eyes and head positions to ensure they remain alert overcomes the major concern many will have with not having either hand on the wheel."
Ford expects BlueCruise to be activated in further European countries as and when regulatory conditions permit, and will roll out the system to further Ford vehicles in the coming years.
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