Ford unleashes the UK’s first legal hands-free drive car – but who will buy it?

The BlueCruise drive system gives the driver the option to go hands-free when certain conditions are met. In the UK that means motorways only, at the moment. Photograph: AP

Taking your hands off the steering wheel while driving on a busy M11 motorway in Essex at 70mph feels like a counterintuitive leap of faith.

When a display flashes blue on the dashboard the moment has come: let go, and the car continues in its lane with no input from feet or hands.