Watch: Autocar drives 'hands-off' in UK with Ford BlueCruise

Martin Sander, general manager, Ford Model E Europe, said: “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.”

More than 100,000 miles of tests drives in the UK and mainland Europe – which followed more than 600,000 miles in the US and Canada – means the tech is well suited to British roads, Ford says, with everyday issues – such as worn-out lane markings, poor weather and roadworks – still picked up by the car’s five radars and cameras.

“There’s a good reason why Ford BlueCruise is the first hands-free driving system to be cleared for use in a European country: we’ve proven beyond doubt that it can support the driver while also ensuring that they keep their eyes on the road for their safety and that of their passengers while the system is active,” said Torsten Wey, manager, advanced driver assistance systems, Ford Europe.

The Blue Oval is also looking at adding BlueCruise to older Mustang Mach-E models – equipped with the optional Tech Pack or Tech Pack+ – via an over-the-air update. The use of BlueCruise in other markets is also under consideration.

Ford's eye on level two-plus (a new, semi-official classification) comes after the company ended its long-running campaign seeking legal approval to test level-four autonomous vehicles (AVs) on public roads in the US, citing the long-term unprofitability of the technology. Instead, its resources are aimed at “nearer-term” level two-plus and level three technologies.

Nevertheless, BlueCruise’s introduction to the UK market will open the door for many other car makers to follow suit. BMW has already said it will offer “address-to-address” level two-plus capability on its Neue Klasse EVs, due from 2025. This will, like BlueCruise, be offered via a software update for those willing to pay. 

Elsewhere, Mercedes-Benz is making gains with level three technology, which doesn’t require the driver’s full attention. Germany and the US state of Nevada have given permission for the car maker to use its Drive Pilot on public roads. The system, fitted to the latest Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS, is capable of taking control over driving at speeds of up to 40mph.

What is BlueCruise like on UK roads?

Hands off, eyes on: simple in theory but it's fairly unnerving to try it for the first time - not least because drivers of passing cars don't know you're in control of the car. We clocked a couple of suspicious glances from fellow road users and half-wondered whether we might appear on a YouTube compilation of 'awful UK drivers' in the next few weeks - but obviously this is all above board, so smugness soon prevails over anxiety. 

BlueCruise is essentially an enhanced version of adaptive cruise control - and works in a very similar way. You can put your hands where you want to, which is relaxing, but because the in-car camera constantly tracks your eye movements, you can't fully disengage from the act of driving and it's hard to gauge just how life-changing this tech will be. It's not like you can read a book or catch up on emails.

That said, it doesn't take long for the system to demonstrate its efficacy and intelligence, and you can quickly relax into the journey, safe in the knowledge the car is in control. Well, sort of: UK law has it that the bag of flesh in the driver's seat is still responsible for the car's actions, and insurance companies take the same view in the event of an incident. 

Look away for a few seconds and the system will quickly advise you to "watch the road", and if it senses persistent distraction or irregular road conditions, it hands control back to the driver. It seems to work flawlessly on free-flowing motorways up to the legal limit, but as with standard adaptive cruise control, it will probably feel natural to put your hands back on the wheel when the driving situation feels like it demands a more 'human' touch.