Hands Free...

[SueEllen]

..though don't try it on the M25 as you will fall asleep.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...s-ford-mustang

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

The BlueCruise system, an £18-a-month subscription add-on to the £50,000 electric car, uses radars and cameras to track road markings and other vehicles, and an infrared camera in the car to ensure the driver’s eyes remain on the road ahead.

[d000hg]

We don't have anything this advanced, but I can definitely say adaptive cruise control is a wonderful feature in that direction in terms of reducing fatigue. Tracking your eyes seems a clever idea.

[Snooky]

I doubt it'll happen in my lifetime, but I'd really welcome cars - or some kind of similarly flexible transport - which didn't need me to drive. Aside from the fact that a computer will be able to react many times faster than I possibly could, and liaise directly with other vehicles etc., I'd love to just be able to read the paper or snooze on a long trip.

[Uncle Albert]

We don't have anything this advanced, but I can definitely say adaptive cruise control is a wonderful feature in that direction in terms of reducing fatigue. Tracking your eyes seems a clever idea.

I can see a market for these stuck to the outside of your eyelids.

[sadkingbilly]

I'd love to just be able to read the paper or snooze on a long trip.

use a limo service then.

[ladymuck]

My brother tried similar in his Honda.

Set cruise control to the road's speed limit and then let the car use its own auto braking and lane control to drive down the M23.

He didn't go to sleep as was bricking it but said it did very well.

[tazdevil]

My brother tried similar in his Honda.

Set cruise control to the road's speed limit and then let the car use its own auto braking and lane control to drive down the M23.

He didn't go to sleep as was bricking it but said it did very well.

I've got a new Civic e:HEV with the adaptive cruise and lane keeping and it works very well. On main roads I use the lane keeping all the time and just rest my hands on the wheel. You have to indicate to move lanes cause it doesn't like it if you don't and tugs you back but once used to it there are no issues. With the adaptive cruise I use it in stop start situations such as going through roadworks, set a speed a bit above the limit and the shortest follow distance and it locks onto the vehicle in front and simply follows it speeding up and slowing down as necessary. I also use it for fun cause it shows the vehicles in front and coming up the sides and the actual vehicle type in the dash. Little lorry, bus, car and motorbike icons moving along the road with you in the dash, very cute

[Paddy]

..though don't try it on the M25 as you will fall asleep.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/20...s-ford-mustang

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

The BlueCruise system, an £18-a-month subscription add-on to the £50,000 electric car, uses radars and cameras to track road markings and other vehicles, and an infrared camera in the car to ensure the driver’s eyes remain on the road ahead.

Waiting for the first prosecution for misusing hands free and inappropriate use of hands

[d000hg]

I doubt it'll happen in my lifetime, but I'd really welcome cars - or some kind of similarly flexible transport - which didn't need me to drive.

Like a taxi? But seriously, this tech is already operating in some locations - the Tesla self-driving is only one of the more high-profile examples which has logged millions of miles of autonomous driving including roundabouts, slip-roads, busy city streets and country roads.

The hardest part IMO is each car has to do this purely on its own - if things were standardised and all cars could talk to each other it would be presumably so much easier from a tech standpoint.

[vetran]

Like a taxi? But seriously, this tech is already operating in some locations - the Tesla self-driving is only one of the more high-profile examples which has logged millions of miles of autonomous driving including roundabouts, slip-roads, busy city streets and country roads.

The hardest part IMO is each car has to do this purely on its own - if things were standardised and all cars could talk to each other it would be presumably so much easier from a tech standpoint.

nah we will centralise them like the smart motorways did and the broken down car app can break on all 'smart' motorways. You know it makes sense, some parcel company or supermarket will do that to save a penny every 100 miles.