Bmw, now driving alone on motorways from toll station to toll station

Bmw becomes the first European brand to be able to drive autonomously on motorways. Because if until today it was forbidden to take your hands off the steering wheel, even in the case of cars with advanced Level 2 autonomous driving systems, from today it will be possible thanks to international homologation in Germany according to the new UN Regulation no. 171 on Driver Control Assistance Systems (DCAS). This regulatory milestone allows the new iX3 to introduce advanced Level 2 autonomous driving capabilities that can radically change driving on motorways and even in urban contexts.

Thanks to this certification, the BMW Motorway Assistant system will be able to be sold throughout Europe and in ECE countries without the need for national exemptions, opening the door to the mass distribution of 'hands-off' driving. The real innovation introduced by the system lies in the fluidity of the interaction between man and machine. On the motorway, up to a speed of 130 km/h, the driver can take his hands off the steering wheel: the system automatically suggests overtaking or returning to the lane to follow the cloud navigation; the driver only needs to glance at the side mirror to confirm the manoeuvre.

Unlike previous systems, the Motorway Assistant remains active even when crossing junctions and along motorway exit lanes. Tested during the first contact in Spain, as you can also see in the video made, the iX3 is able to travel completely autonomously. The new level of automation does not, however, translate into less safety; in the event of distraction or situations deemed dangerous, such as a road construction site, the car stops automated driving after alerting the driver