GM wants drivers to take their eyes off the road by 2028

Would you feel comfortable watching a movie while your car cruises down the highway at 70 mph? General Motors is betting that someday you will. The automaker plans to introduce technology in 2028 that could let drivers take their hands off the steering wheel and their eyes off the road. That means you could potentially answer emails, watch a show or attend a virtual meeting while your vehicle handles the driving.

The technology is expected to debut in the Cadillac Escalade IQ electric SUV. However, GM still has plenty to prove before drivers can safely look away from traffic. The company is testing how people react when a vehicle suddenly needs their attention. That research could help GM determine how much warning drivers need before safely taking control.

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IKEA TURNS TO DRIVERLESS SEMIS WITH NOBODY IN THE CAB

GM already offers Super Cruise, a hands-free driving system available on more than 20 models across Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC and Buick. It can manage steering, acceleration and braking on compatible roads under certain conditions. However, drivers must continue watching the road and remain ready to take control.

The next version of Super Cruise would remove that constant attention requirement when the eyes-off feature is active. GM plans to introduce it on compatible highways before eventually expanding to other roads. The system will use lidar, radar and cameras to monitor its surroundings. Turquoise lights on the dashboard and exterior mirrors will signal when eyes-off driving is available and active. GM says the technology could arrive as early as 2028. However, the launch depends on further development, safety testing and other requirements. Availability will also depend on state laws.

GM's ambitions are also growing. On Oct. 21, the company announced plans to bring autonomous highway driving to its full-size SUVs and light-duty pickup trucks, including gas-powered vehicles. Those vehicles represent some of GM's biggest sellers. However, the automaker has not announced when the technology will reach those additional models.

Before asking drivers to trust a vehicle with their safety, GM wants to understand what happens when people stop concentrating on driving. At its Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan, hundreds of volunteers have climbed into real GM vehicles, including the Cadillac Lyriq. However, instead of driving onto an actual highway, they enter an immersive simulator that recreates different road conditions. Researchers can introduce sudden traffic changes, construction zones and hazardous situations.

Meanwhile, sensors monitor drivers' eye movements, heart rates and stress responses. The tests help GM understand how people behave when the technology encounters something unexpected. GM also tests its automated driving technology on closed courses and public roads with trained safety drivers. According to the company, its simulation tools can reproduce the equivalent of 100 years of driving in a single day. That gives engineers opportunities to study dangerous situations without exposing everyday drivers to those risks.

Here's something I didn't expect to see in automotive safety research. GM is asking some participants to play Candy Crush while researchers study their reactions. The game creates an engaging distraction. Players become focused on improving their scores, which gives researchers a way to measure what happens when they must suddenly shift their attention back to driving. According to reporting by The Associated Press, Maureen August, a senior manager at GM Research & Development, explained that the game helps researchers draw participants into an activity before interrupting them.

That interruption is especially important. Consider how long it takes to understand what's happening around you after you've been concentrating on your phone. Now consider making that adjustment while sitting behind the wheel of a moving SUV. At 70 mph, a vehicle travels roughly 103 feet every second. Even a five-second delay means it covers more than 500 feet. That's a lot of highway to travel while someone figures out why the car needs help.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE WAYMO COMPUTER FAILS?

This may be the biggest question surrounding GM's plans. What happens when an automated vehicle encounters a situation it cannot safely handle? Perhaps there's debris blocking the highway. Maybe road markings disappear during construction. An unexpected maneuver by another driver could also create a dangerous situation.

GM's engineers are studying how much warning drivers need before taking control. Researchers also examine whether people understand the system's alerts and feel comfortable trusting the technology. However, an eyes-off system must be designed around the possibility that someone cannot respond immediately. That's why the vehicle's ability to handle unexpected conditions and safely manage a failed takeover becomes especially important. GM has not yet publicly detailed every situation its planned system will handle or exactly how it will respond when a driver fails to take over.

Several automakers already offer systems that reduce the work involved in highway driving. However, their capabilities vary considerably. Ford's BlueCruise allows hands-free driving on compatible roads, but drivers must continue paying attention. Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) can handle many driving tasks, although it still requires active human supervision.

Mercedes-Benz previously introduced its DRIVE PILOT system, which allowed conditional eyes-off driving in limited situations. However, the automaker has since pulled back from that technology in the U.S. as it develops its next generation of automated driving systems. GM's larger ambition is to make eyes-off driving available at highway speeds across a broader network of compatible roads. The company hopes to expand the capability to additional models after the Escalade IQ.

There's a financial incentive behind the push toward automated driving. Automakers increasingly offer advanced features through paid software subscriptions. GM already charges for continued Super Cruise access after the included service period expires. According to the company's August 2026 update, equipped vehicles include three years of service, followed by plans starting at $39.99 per month.

GM has not announced pricing for its future eyes-off technology. Some industry analysts believe drivers will be more willing to pay for technology that frees up their time behind the wheel. Still, there's a practical question for buyers. If you're already paying a premium for a luxury SUV, how much more would you be willing to spend each month to use its most advanced driving features?

WAYMO RECALLS ROBOTAXIS OVER CONSTRUCTION-ZONE RISK

If you're considering a vehicle with advanced driving technology, pay attention to what the manufacturer actually promises. Today's hands-free systems generally require you to keep watching the road. GM's planned eyes-off feature would allow you to look away only when the system is properly engaged under compatible conditions. Before paying for that capability, you'll want to know where it works and how the vehicle handles emergencies. It's also worth asking what happens if the system requests your attention while you're distracted.

Also, don't overlook the ongoing cost. Subscription fees could make a vehicle more expensive to own than its original purchase price suggests. And remember, GM's planned system remains under development. Until a manufacturer explicitly authorizes eyes-off operation under the appropriate conditions, keep watching the road and follow the system's instructions.

I love the idea of a less stressful drive, especially on those long stretches of highway where you're staring at the same traffic for miles. But handing over control is one thing. Taking my eyes off the road while traveling at highway speed is another. GM's research is encouraging because the company is studying how people actually behave when they're distracted. Still, I want to know what happens when the car encounters something it wasn't expecting. And if automakers plan to charge us every month for this technology, they'd better be able to show that it's safe and dependable. I'd be curious to try it, but I'd want a lot more evidence before settling in to watch a movie.

Would you trust your car enough to watch a movie while it drives at 70 mph, or would you always want to keep an eye on the road? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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