Swindon & Wiltshire News
Ford wins the race to offer hands-free driving to UK motorists
Ford has become the first manufacturer to offer hands-free driving technology to UK drivers – the first system of its kind approved in Europe.
BlueCruise technology – which has been successfully used for 64 million miles in Canada and the Us – allows drivers to remove their hands from the steering wheel on 2,300 miles of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales.
The system works at speeds up to 70mph, with radar and cameras monitoring road markings, signs, and changing traffic conditions.
Infrared camera technology continually checks driver attentiveness for safety and confidence.
“It’s not every day that you can say you’ve placed one foot in the future, but Ford BlueCruise becoming the first hands-free driving system of its kind to receive approval for use in a European country is a significant step forward for our industry,” said Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe.
“Modern highways can be demanding even for the most confident drivers, and intimidating for many. BlueCruise can do some of the ‘heavy lifting’, to make highway driving less of a chore, and give drivers that little extra confidence and convenience.”
“Modern highways can be demanding even for the most confident drivers, and intimidating for many. BlueCruise can do some of the ‘heavy lifting’, to make highway driving less of a chore, and give drivers that little extra confidence and convenience.”
Owners of Ford Mustang Mach-E model year 2023 vehicles in Great Britain are the first to be able to activate BlueCruise via subscription, which costs £17.99 a month after a 90-day free trial.
“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 latest advanced driver assistance systems make driving smoother and easier, but they can also help make roads safer by reducing scope for driver error.”
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.
