The 2021 Ford Active Drive Assist system is nearly here, and soon it will be escorting you down hundreds of thousands of miles of highway, hands-free. Ford’s all-new semi-autonomous driving technology represents a new way to tackle long, lonely stretches of highway. And, even as the system takes over driving, it’s designed to keep you safe—and to make sure you’re still paying attention to traffic.

WHAT IS IT?

The 2021 Ford Active Drive Assist system is a brand new driver assist feature that makes hands-free driving possible on over 100,000 miles of highway in the U.S. and Canada.

The system only works in Hands-Free mode on pre-mapped sections of divided highways. Where you can engage the system, you’ll be able to cruise around without lifting a finger.

No matter where you live in the U.S., Ford’s semi-autonomous driving software can help you get around with maximum peace of mind. Highways have been pre-mapped in all fifty U.S. states.

There’s a safety catch, however. Active Drive Assist uses a driver-facing camera to track your head position and eye movements to ensure that you’re still paying attention to the road. The system can even keep track of your gaze through most sunglasses.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The new 2021 Ford Active Drive Assist system utilizes both radar and infrared camera technology to provide a semi-autonomous drive on pre-mapped highways. Once the Hands-Free mode is engaged, the system actually does the driving for you.

HOW MUCH IS IT? WHEN WILL IT BE AVAILABLE?

As of right now, Ford hasn’t announced a price tag for this technology. But we do know that the Active Drive Assist system will either come standard or as an affordable option for the 2021 Ford F-150 trucks and Mustang Mach-E all-electric crossovers.

The Active Drive Assist feature will be part of the Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 bundle of safety aids. This bundle isn’t available just yet, but the all-new Mustang Mach-E model will give shoppers the first opportunity to add the Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package. The Prep Package outfits the Mustang Mach-E with the necessary cameras and radar hardware. When the Active Drive Assist feature becomes available in 2021, drivers who installed the Prep Package will be able to download it in an over-the-air update.

As a bonus, adding the new Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 Prep Package means you also get the new Active Park Assist 2.0 system. This upgraded self-parking technology can park in both parallel and perpendicular spaces.