Because it's an extremely narrowly defined set of requirements in order to use it. It's "approved freeways with clear markings and moderate to heavy traffic under 40MPH during daytime hours and clear conditions" meaning it will inch forward for you in bumper to bumper traffic provided you're in an approved area and that's it.
Those still require your full attention and hands on the wheel.
In theory. In practice, it just beeps at you if your sandwich hand is steering.
Well, not always hands on wheel. I have spent over an hour straight on an interstate with hands off. Ford's system watches your eyes and lets your hands stay off if it's decent conditions and on a LIDAR-mapped freeway. Note I wouldn't trust it at night (there have been two crashes, both at night with stopped vehicles on freeway), but then I wouldn't really trust myself at night either too much (there are many many more human caused crashes at night, I'm not sure a human at freeway speed could avoid a crash with a surprise stationary vehicle in middle of the road).
Right, this is an insurance product more than a tech product.
Still seems not legal to not pay attention to the road. Wouldn't fly over here at least.
Correct, it only flies in California and Nevada, where the DMV approved it
that paid for it to be, like everything else that's legal?
How is that legal?
Because it's an extremely narrowly defined set of requirements in order to use it. It's "approved freeways with clear markings and moderate to heavy traffic under 40MPH during daytime hours and clear conditions" meaning it will inch forward for you in bumper to bumper traffic provided you're in an approved area and that's it.
https://www.mbusa.com/en/owners/manuals/drive-pilot
How is that different than LKAS + ACC?
Those still require your full attention and hands on the wheel.
In theory. In practice, it just beeps at you if your sandwich hand is steering.
Well, not always hands on wheel. I have spent over an hour straight on an interstate with hands off. Ford's system watches your eyes and lets your hands stay off if it's decent conditions and on a LIDAR-mapped freeway. Note I wouldn't trust it at night (there have been two crashes, both at night with stopped vehicles on freeway), but then I wouldn't really trust myself at night either too much (there are many many more human caused crashes at night, I'm not sure a human at freeway speed could avoid a crash with a surprise stationary vehicle in middle of the road).
Right, this is an insurance product more than a tech product.
Still seems not legal to not pay attention to the road. Wouldn't fly over here at least.
Correct, it only flies in California and Nevada, where the DMV approved it
that paid for it to be, like everything else that's legal?