The next car can allow you to drive hands-free. It is a good thing?

Car companies have added safety technologies designed to prevent accidents, such as automatic emergency braking and systems to prevent the car from getting out of its lane. Now, more are introducing vehicle features that aim to make driving less taxable in rush hour traffic or road travel.

Some new systems allow drivers to get their hands off the wheel on highways or in crowded areas, using sensors, radar and cameras to automatically keep the car centered, control speed and even change lanes.

General engines Co.

was the first major car company to promote such capabilities in 2017 with the hands-free Super Cruise feature, which can be activated on most US highways by pressing a button on the steering wheel that allows the car to take control and speed control.

The Detroit-based automaker has said it now plans to launch the technology on about two dozen models by 2023, compared to a Cadillac now.

Ford Motor Co.

F -1.45%

Recently, he said it will offer similar technology starting next year, with up to 100,000 F-150 pickup trucks and Mustang Mach-E electric sport utility models.

Honda engine Co.

HMC -0.45%

plans to launch a sedan in Japan in the coming months, allowing the driver to give up full control of the car in heavy traffic or on highways. The technology will even allow drivers to keep their eyes on the road, although they expect to take control at any time, the company said. The Japanese regulators approved its use in November.

Honda said it did not disclose plans to introduce the technology beyond Japan.

Meanwhile, Tesla Inc.

TSLA 2.44%

said it recently released an updated Driver Test version for owners, the driver assistance feature of the car manufacturer.

The $ 10,000 feature, which the company calls Full Self Driving, extends the use of automatic features to several types of roads and adds capabilities such as highway intersection navigation.

The promise of driverless cars has disappeared in recent years as developers struggle to refine technology. But carmakers are equipping several models with the construction elements of driverless cars to offer so-called driver assistance packages, hoping to gain a competitive advantage and increase sales.

“They allow carmakers to offer consumers very interesting and differentiated features at a reasonable price,” said Glen De Vos, chief technology officer of Aptiv PLC, a provider of software and components used in driver assistance systems.

Consumer Reports recently tested 17 models that combine automatic steering and speed control, compared to four when the magazine did a similar test two years ago. The magazine said that such systems can ease the driver’s fatigue, but the performance varies greatly on aspects such as braking and smooth acceleration or keeping a car centered on its belt.

However, if drivers have less to do behind the wheel, safety lawyers are worried, they will be tempted to look at their phones or revel in other distractions, leading to accidents.

“If we put this technology on cars, we have to be careful to make sure the driver is reasonably employed,” said Bryan Reimer, a researcher at MIT who studies driver assistance systems.

Some lawyers have criticized Tesla for promoting its latest update as self-driving, as the system is not fully autonomous and they argue that a pilot system should not be tested on public roads.

Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. The electric car manufacturer has previously stated that accident rates are lower when drivers have vehicles with the driver assistance system activated than when it is not in use.

Vehicle manufacturers have installed camera-based systems that monitor drivers’ focus and alert them if their attention is diverted, directors and analysts say. GM and BMW AG

BMW 1.78%

use the technology to keep drivers involved, and Ford and others plan to use it in future models. Such systems have attracted praise from researchers.

De Vos of Aptiv said the company is working with five carmakers to equip vehicles with camera-based driver tracking systems.

Cadillac owners have registered about 6.5 million hands-free miles using Super Cruise technology, the company said. A series of audible alerts warn drivers if their attention strays from the road.

Mario Maiorana, chief engineer for GM’s Super Cruise, said it has become a point of sale for customers, noting that 85% of owners say this feature would be a major issue in their next car purchase.

“People have told us that they feel that they are reaching their destination feeling more refreshed and relaxed because of the work we have done,” he said.

A recent update has improved driver monitoring technology, he said. Now he can follow the driver’s eyes, rather than just the position of the head, to better detect if the driver is fixed on the road or elsewhere.

A U.S. Senate bill introduced this year would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to study whether driver monitoring systems can reduce distracted driving and require them in future models. The legislation, introduced by Edward Markey (D., Mass.) And Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) In July, is pending.

A spokesman for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it is investigating whether driver monitoring systems are effective in identifying and mitigating inattentive or deficient drivers.

The growing availability of driver assistance systems has led to a mix of different features that vary by car model and manufacturer, said Kelly Funkhouser, a vehicle testing manager who runs automatic vehicle coverage at Consumer Reports.

“All of these systems behave so differently and there are no performance or design standards,” she said. “There needs to be more cohesion.”

Write to Mike Colias at [email protected]