'Knowledge, understanding and experience overrule autonomous tech'

With Ford introducing hands-free technology, BlueCruise, which has been cleared by the Government for use on motorways, fleets have revealed their thoughts and concerns on how they can integrate the semi-autonomous tech into their policies.

BlueCruise is a driver assistance system that enables hands-free assisted driving at up to 80mph speeds.

The technology made its debut on the Mustang Mach-E and has been approved for use on UK roads by the Department for Transport (DfT).

The system monitors road markings, speed signs and evolving traffic conditions to control steering, acceleration, braking and lane positioning, as well as to maintain safe and consistent distances to vehicles ahead – right down to a complete halt in traffic jams.

A majority of fleet decision-makers would not be happy for their drivers to use a hands-off driver assistance system, such as Ford's BlueCruise, according to a Fleet News poll.

At a roundtable discussion during a recent Fleet200 Strategy Network meeting, fleets raised their concerns about the technology:

• Biggest concern is not being aware of what vehicles the technology is on – need to understand what technology is on a vehicle and having parameters of accepting it/not accepting it on vehicles. If it is accepted, it's essential to ensure there’s effective driver education on how to use it - driver education must be a part of the adoption. Manufacturer support would also be welcome for driver education.
• How will the technology detect whether a vehicle is on a motorway? Does the technology turn off and on and can it be switched on/off by drivers? Will data be available to monitor this? If so, how is the data monitored and what is being done with that data? Data that is not acted upon is not worth using and if the data is not being measured across all fleet vehicles it will be inconsistent.
• If most of the driving is done on motorways and is being recorded by telematics systems for driver behaviour, it could give you greater protection as it will show a model driver.
• Concern about the technology as the most concentrated driving is required on a motorway.
• With 95% of incidents caused by human error, there should potentially be no collisions when the human element is removed. The technology should be safer than a driver, however, the challenge is that it will not fully work unless every vehicle is fully autonomous.
• Worry around starting to purchase subscription services to assist drivers – manufacturers must install tech to all makes and models, otherwise drivers will not know what they’re driving.
• If a driver needs to take an intervention, their reaction time will be a lot slower than if they were in full control of the car. By the time they have regained control of the car, the incident may have already occurred.
• Significant problem of drivers falling asleep and crashing vehicles in older trucks that do not have newer technology installed, such as adaptive cruise control, or automatic braking systems. Fleets have vehicles with technology in but drivers are still falling asleep but not having collisions due to the technology reacting, which changes the parameters.
• Human nature is to be in control of a vehicle – never going to automate a pedestrian or vulnerable road users. Knowledge, understanding and experience in driving overrule technology. Therefore, the technology should always be viewed as a driver's aid rather than rely on it fully.

Incorporating autonomous tech into driving policies

• Concern around the move across from responsibility as a driver or a passenger – in the event of an incident, who is blamed – the technology or the driver? Important to educate drivers on the technology, how it works and what their responsibility is as a driver.
• Key part is whether a driver is either driving or not driving – it could be part of your fleet choice listing. If you have a vehicle without BlueCruise on, is that acceptable in your policy or not? Important to educate not just the driver but the whole business, if a driver wants a vehicle with the tech. Important to budget and factor in training.
• Are we getting ahead of ourselves with this kind of technology? Still in the process of educating drivers about electric vehicle (EV) tech and now pushing this tech - is it too much?
• Identify the benefits of the technology as not sure what the benefits are going to be.
• First step is to accept that technology is acceptable as part of your fleet offering. If you do not accept the technology as a fleet, the decision can be made to not subscribe to BlueCruise technology – which could be your policy. But will that allow the individual driver to subscribe? If so, could be funded by salary sacrifice options, where there are fewer restrictions and more user chooser vehicles. To expand across the range of vehicles, it must bring benefits to the users, which must be a reduction in accidents.
• With grey fleet vehicles that have BlueCruise tech, you would not be aware that they are using the tech as you do not have access to any data.
• For fleets to embrace the technology, it needs to be more widespread and proven in a different capacity to blue sky thinking.