A big hand for driverless cars

UK gives green light to hands-free system

- SEAN MURPHY

HANDS-FREE driving has moved up a gear with experts predicting huge advances in car technology after a major breakthrough.

Confidence is booming since the United Kingdom yesterday became the first European country to green light semi-autonomous cars on public roads.

Its government gave manufacturer Ford permission to activate a pioneering state-of-the-art system called Blue Cruise.

It means drivers can use the "hands-off, eyes-on" technology on certain motorways.

The AA has now predicted there will be "more changes in automotive technology in the next 10 years than we have seen in the last 50 years".

The technology is designed to control functions like steering, acceleration, braking and lane positioning but it is not fully self-driving.

An infrared camera checks that drivers are keeping their eyes on the road in case human intervention is required.