It can’t change lanes, only works on motorways and it constantly monitors the “driver’s” eyes to ensure they are watching the road. It then sounds alerts if they aren’t concentrating on the road.

it doesn’t sound much different from existing Tesla technology. In fact it’s probably more restrictive. It gives Ford a lot of free publicity though.

Since the driver is not permitted to use their mobile, fall asleep or conduct any activity that takes attention away from the road, what can you do apart from twiddle your thumbs?

Hopefully, eventually, along with others, demonstrate that the technology works so that we can start thinking about actual self-driving cars.

I can see some disase

Humans have the ability to screw up any man made system (and a few others as well)

So net benefit is that you may be able to rest one hand on armrest.

That's only advantage I see compared to current smart cruise control with lane assist feature

I tend to find, when I’m using a ‘self steer’ system, that if I’m letting the car follow its lane, my grip on the wheel is light enough for the car not to recognise I’m there. So, every now and again, I have to give the wheel a slight waggle to let it know I’m still awake… It’ll now know I’m still there by tracking eye movements.

What happens in these self steering cars when it sends you down a pot hole, I expect your eyes almost jump out of your head! I don't want to be paying for this tech when I buy a car, all I want is to drive it while there is still something to satisfy a bit of driving skill.

and Alphabet and Google were ahead in this game.

Tesla found it so hard they designed there own Super Computer chip, so AI could train/program their own system which is still in the making

so how ford have got this far I don`t know?

Alphabet and Google are the same - Alphabet is the main holding compnay and Goole one of the brands.

How have Ford got this far - money and hard work - like most things.

Alphabet and Google are the same - Alphabet is the main holding compnay and Goole one of the brands.

If I had just mentioned Google you would have corrected on that!

Ford are still way behind on the tech and software.....

I would not have corrected it as there would be nothing to correct!

I wonder how the system acts when it's no longer able to operate, because of unclear white lines etc. and the driver doesn't take hold of the steering wheel quickly enough. From its perspective the only safe thing to do would be to stop the car, but that's not exactly safe when looking at the impact on the motorway overall.

Also, as it monitors drivers eye movements, it's probably not going to work when the driver is wearing sunglasses.

I don't think I'll bother with paying £20 a month subscription just to be able to rest my hands on my knees instead of holding the steering wheel....

It is unlikely self driving cars will ever be able to cope with single track country roads with mud, passing spaces and lack of verges.. and no road markings. .not forgetting the 4x4s which are as wide as the road and driven by drivers as thick as the surrounding trees,

If not, what is the point?

Indeed - I wonder what would happen if both cars are of that type - a Mexican standoff or one decides to burst through a farm gate and take 'the scenic route'? Maybe if both could communicate with one another they could toss a virtual coin to decide which backs up to the nearest viable passing place, unless both are equidistant (remember the donkey whose equidistant from food test?).

K.I.T.T. they are not.