Several automakers offer hands-free cruise control systems capable of keeping a car in its lane on curving highways, keeping a safe distance from traffic, and prompting the driver to take over when things get complicated. They don’t create truly autonomous cars, and there’s a real risk that drivers could place too much trust in them. But, when used correctly, they can take on some of the driving workload and make long trips easier.
One of the best of them is about to get a lot better. GM’s Super Cruise system combines mapped highway data with in-vehicle cameras and radar. Currently, it functions on about 200,000 miles of highway. But GM has announced plans to roughly double that number this year.
It’s step one in a plan that ends in a system that works everywhere, not just on highways. Jeff Glucker, from our sister site Autotrader, explains.
