Ford Introduces Hands-Free Driving Technology to Motorways in Great Britain

Ford has become the first automaker to introduce 'hands-off, eyes-on' advanced driver assistance technology approved for pre-mapped motorways in Great Britain. It's the first system of its kind approved in Europe. 

A green light for Ford BlueCruise technology from the UK government means drivers of enabled Mustang Mach-E models can use the driving technology on 2,300 miles (3,700 km) of pre-mapped motorways in England, Scotland and Wales,  designated as Blue Zones.

BlueCruise monitors road markings, speed signs and evolving traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane positioning, as well as to maintain safe and consistent distances to vehicles ahead – right down to a complete halt in traffic jams.

In addition, infrared camera technology continually checks driver attentiveness for safety.

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.

Drivers of 193,000 BlueCruise-equipped Ford and Lincoln vehicles have already driven more than 64 million hands-free miles (102 million kilometres) in Canada and the US.

Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model e, Europe, says: “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. 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.”

“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,” adds 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.”

Ford's BlueCruise is the latest addition to the Mustang Mach-E’s suite of technologies that also includes Pre‑Collision Assist,  Active Park Assist 2.0  and Ford’s SYNC 4A connectivity system  supported by a 15.5-inch touchscreen.