VW are proposing a new technology that will allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel at speeds up to around 130km/h, and let the car’s system temporarily take over. Look, it isn’t exactly Knight Rider, but it’s good that VW’s looking after people who want to multitask while cruising down highways.

Say the dudes over at Engadget:

The system pairs Lane Assist with cruise control, and can be overridden by the driver at any time. The TAP system’s Pilot Mode uses radar, laser, camera, and ultrasonic sensors to maintain a safe distance between vehicles, start and stop in traffic, and slow down before a bend. Speed is set by the driver, who you’ll need to remain aware of your surroundings in case you need to take over control — so don’t get too comfortable poking around the menus on that AppRadio just yet.

This is yet another new technology that is going to warn everybody about its limitations and will be ignored by the first people to try it out. I’m predicting the first fatality to be a dude taking a nap with autopilot on.

[Source: Engadget]