BMW is ready to deploy a new self-driving system to its 7 Series model that will allow drivers to watch films and send emails from behind the wheel.

The BMW Personal Pilot L3 system will be available in Germany, initially, on vehicles ordered from December.

It allows drivers to redirect their focus to other in-vehicle activities when travelling at up to 37mph, on motorways with structurally separated carriageways. 

Symbols appear on the display behind the steering wheel as appropriate to indicate whether the BMW Personal Pilot L3 is available. It is activated and deactivated by a button on the steering wheel. When the function is being used, the customer still has to be ready to reassume the task of driving at any time.

The crucial difference between Level 2 and Level 3 is that with Level 2 (partially automated driving) responsibility continues to lie with the driver at all times. This is the case with Ford's BlueCruise system, the first of its kind to launch in the UK.

The benefit of hands-off driver assistance systems have been questioned by fleets, who fear the technology could also pose a risk to road safety.