Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Gwyn Topham Transport correspondent

First hands-free self-driving system approved for British motorways

A driver in Ford's electric Mustang Mach-E with the BlueCruise self-driving technology.
A driver in Ford's Mustang Mach-E with the BlueCruise self-driving technology. The system will be usable on 2,300 miles of motorway in England, Scotland and Wales. Photograph: Ford/PA

Drivers will be legally allowed to take their hands off the steering wheel on Britain’s motorways for the first time as long as they watch the road, after the government approved another step on the path to self-driving cars.

The driving-assist feature in Ford’s latest Mustang Mach-E model, which allows the vehicle to steer and accelerate but also monitors the driver’s attention to ensure their eyes are on the road, will be permitted by the Department for Transport in a first for Europe.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.