Ford’s hands-free highway driving assist system, BlueCruise, has come under scrutiny after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found that it was active during a fatal crash in February. This investigation is significant because it marks the first time a hands-free driving assist system available to the public has been observed in a road death. The outcome of the investigation could have implications for the future of automated driving technology in the United States.
The crash occurred on February 24 when a Ford Mustang Mach-E rear-ended a stationary Honda CR-V on Interstate 10 in San Antonio, TX. According to a witness statement reported by Reuters, the Honda was immobile in the road with its lights off before another vehicle hit it, resulting in the driver’s fatal injuries. The NTSB has confirmed that the Ford was being driven with BlueCruise active during the crash. The NTSB is also investigating another Mach-E crash in Philadelphia, PA, where two people were killed.
BlueCruise is Ford’s automated driving assist technology that allows for hands-free driving on certain highways. Unlike some automakers, Ford does not market this system as autonomous or “self-driving,” and it emphasizes that drivers should keep their eyes on the road. The vehicle includes driver monitoring to deactivate the program if the driver appears distracted. BlueCruise is considered one of the most capable systems available to U.S. consumers, alongside General Motors’ Super Cruise.
This crash involving BlueCruise is significant because it involves a hands-free driving assist system available to the public, rather than a driverless vehicle or a less capable hands-on system like Tesla’s. It also brings attention to the potential failures of Ford’s other safety technologies, such as Co-Pilot360.
The NTSB and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are conducting investigations into this crash and others involving automated driving technologies from different automakers. These investigations put Ford in a difficult position, as the outcome could have implications for not only BlueCruise but also other similar systems. Even if Ford can attribute the crash to driver misuse, it still raises concerns about the effectiveness of their safety technologies. If Ford cannot deflect blame, it may call into question the reliability of other systems on the market.
These incidents reinforce the fact that fully automated driving is still far from being a safe and commercially viable product. It raises doubts about whether it is suitable for our roads in its current state.
As of now, Ford has not responded to inquiries about the crash. This investigation highlights the need for continued scrutiny and evaluation of automated driving technologies to ensure public safety.
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