Minimal Hands Free Driving (Lane Keeping + Adaptive Cruise Control)

[Merrick]

With Lane Keeping and Adaptive Cruise Control can I drive “Hands Free” for short stints in my 2025 Maverick Lariat?

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[cwstnsko]

It takes it a few seconds to get after you to put some torque on the wheel, so yes, you can be very briefly hands free.

 

[Merrick]

It takes it a few seconds to get after you to put some torque on the wheel, so yes, you can be very briefly hands free.

I could do it on my Honda Accord which warns you when you need to touch the steering wheel again.

 

[scottjl]

short stints of a few seconds, sure. but it will start throwing alerts that you don't have your hands on the wheel. it also won't follow curves or anything like that. it's not hands-free.

 

[Merrick]

short stints of a few seconds, sure. but it will start throwing alerts that you don't have your hands on the wheel. it also won't follow curves or anything like that. it's not hands-free.

But if you have lane keeping on it should follow curves.

 

[dhaskit]

This should be place firmly in the “Do Not try this at home, kids” category, but….

It is possible to take a partially full Ozarka water bottle and jam it into the spokes of the steering wheel, which will provide enough differential torque to the steering and allow you to take your hands off the wheel. Or a simple hook on the bottle and hang it on one side of the steering wheel.
Please Don’t ask me how I know this.

 

[cwstnsko]

But if you have lane keeping on it should follow curves.

Lane Keeping, a feature found on XLT (lux?) trim, will not follow curves well. It will ping pong back and forth.
Lane CENTERING, which is included only on the Lariat, will follow curves very well, up to a point, it‘s actually pretty close to the early versions of Blue Cruise, but without the IR eye tracking cameras, Ford does not allow it to go hands free.

 

[cwstnsko]

This should be place firmly in the “Do Not try this at home, kids” category, but….

It is possible to take a partially full Ozarka water bottle and jam it into the spokes of the steering wheel, which will provide enough differential torque to the steering and allow you to take your hands off the wheel. Or a simple hook on the bottle and hang it on one side of the steering wheel.
Please Don’t ask me how I know this.

Normally such things are not discussed in public forums… I would never do something like that

I do find, however, that one of these “grip exercise“ balls to be useful for reducing arm fatigue while driving under certain conditions…. just for keeping the non driving hand from cramping up…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G1P47K2

 

[oysterville]

JFC

 

[inline_five]

With Lane Keeping and Adaptive Cruise Control can I drive “Hands Free” for short stints in my 2025 Maverick Lariat?

Lane keeping no, lane centering yes.

I have it installed on my '23 XLT hybrid, it works great. I use a 1 lb ankle weight for my 400 mile highway commutes (about once a month, there and back).

Can go hands free for many miles, if your highway roads are well marked and you stay in center lanes. I would be knowledgeable of where you are driving, since I repeat my route every month I know the roads and that it won't disconnect on me.

 

[Blue_Max]

I weep for the future.

 

[inline_five]

I weep for the future.

This is the future. It will only get more automated.

I've been operating jets with autopilots for two decades, I'm pretty adept at using it in my vehicle. It's a huge safety feature, it allows you to monitor what is going on around you far better. In addition, I drive at night often into the wee hours of the morning, where the vehicle is much better at maintaining control and my fatigue is kept to a minimum.

 

[jb_cb900]

This is the future. It will only get more automated.

I've been operating jets with autopilots for two decades, I'm pretty adept at using it in my vehicle. It's a huge safety feature, it allows you to monitor what is going on around you far better. In addition, I drive at night often into the wee hours of the morning, where the vehicle is much better at maintaining control and my fatigue is kept to a minimum.

I'm more worried about the 17 year old with there hands and attention glued to their phone. Yikes!
Also, this is a Maverick, with a lot of recalls, not a jet.

 

[scottjl]

But if you have lane keeping on it should follow curves.

no. it follows a very slight bend in the road, it will not follow curves, it will also alert that your hands aren't on the wheel and soon turn off entirely.

also, it does not work well if the lines aren't well defined, a good black road with decently painted lines. faded, debris, too wide, edge disappears, etc. and it will turn off. it wants to see good solid regular lines on both sides at all times.

it will give you 30 seconds or so to reach for something in the car, but it will quickly tell you to get your hands back on the wheel. even faster if the road does curve because it expects you to follow the curve. it's an assist, not an auto-pilot. definitely not blue cruise.

 

[Merrick]

Lane Keeping, a feature found on XLT (lux?) trim, will not follow curves well. It will ping pong back and forth.
Lane CENTERING, which is included only on the Lariat, will follow curves very well, up to a point, it‘s actually pretty close to the early versions of Blue Cruise, but without the IR eye tracking cameras, Ford does not allow it to go hands free.

I have a 2025 Lariat. It follows the curves very well.

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