The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating Ford’s Blue Cruise hands-free driving system following two fatal crashes. Blue Cruise was introduced in the 2021 model year and is available in several models from Ford and Lincoln, specifically involving 130,000 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs. The system allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals on selected highways, using cameras, sensors, and map data to keep the vehicle in its lane and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. An internal camera monitors the driver to ensure they are paying attention to the road.
Both fatal crashes involving Blue Cruise occurred at night and the system was in use immediately before the accidents. One crash was in San Antonio and the other in Philadelphia, with at least one person killed in each incident. The NHTSA investigation will focus on the system’s performance in driving the vehicle as well as its driver monitoring capabilities. Ford has not yet responded to CNN’s request for comment on the investigation, but the company has stated that it is cooperating with regulators, according to Reuters.
The NHTSA’s investigation into Ford’s Blue Cruise system comes after the system’s involvement in two fatal crashes. Blue Cruise allows for hands-free driving on selected highways using advanced technology to keep the vehicle in its lane and adjust its speed to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. The system includes driver monitoring features to ensure the driver is paying attention, but issues with this technology may also be examined in the investigation.
The two fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise system occurred at night, with one in San Antonio and the other in Philadelphia. Both incidents resulted in at least one fatality, prompting the NHTSA to investigate the system’s performance in driving the vehicle as well as its driver monitoring capabilities. Ford has not yet provided a response to CNN’s request for comment on the investigation, but the company has indicated that it is working with regulators to address any concerns about the system.
The NHTSA’s investigation into Ford’s Blue Cruise system focuses on its performance and driver monitoring features following two fatal crashes. Blue Cruise, introduced in the 2021 model year, enables hands-free driving on selected highways using advanced technology to keep the vehicle in its lane and adjust speed to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. The internal camera of the system monitors the driver to ensure they are paying attention to the road, but issues with this monitoring feature may also be examined in the investigation.
Both of the fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise system occurred at night, with one in San Antonio and the other in Philadelphia. These incidents resulted in at least one fatality in each case, prompting the NHTSA to investigate the system’s performance in driving the vehicle and its driver monitoring capabilities. Ford has not yet provided a response to CNN’s request for comment on the investigation, but the company has stated that it is cooperating with regulators to address any concerns about the system’s safety and functionality.
