iBestTravel Investigates NHTSA’s Inquiry into Ford’s BlueCruise System
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has initiated a preliminary investigation into Ford’s BlueCruise driver assistance system. This comes after the U.S. government agency learned of at least two fatal crashes with the system allegedly active. This new investigation will assess whether a broader review and potential recall of Ford’s system will be necessary, following a separate inquiry by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Here’s what we know so far.
Fatalities Reported Involving BlueCruise
NHTSA has reported three fatalities resulting from two distinct incidents involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E all-electric SUV with BlueCruise engaged. The system allegedly failed to detect and stop before colliding with another stationary vehicle on the roadway. Importantly, both incidents occurred at night, when visibility conditions are generally worse. The first crash was reported in Texas in February, followed by another incident in Pennsylvania earlier this month.
Focus of the Preliminary Investigation
The new preliminary investigation will primarily focus on the Mustang Mach-E’s BlueCruise system, according to documents reported by CarScoops. Notably, BlueCruise is also available in other Ford and Lincoln models. NHTSA is set to evaluate BlueCruise’s capability to accurately assess and respond to the road environment, as well as examine the effectiveness of the driver monitoring system. BlueCruise operates as a Level 2 driver assistance system, allowing drivers to remove their hands from the wheel for extended periods, provided they remain attentive to the road. A driver monitoring camera, along with steering sensors, is intended to ensure driver engagement; however, NHTSA suggests that these measures might not be sufficient, particularly for the Ford Mustang Mach-E model.
Ford’s Cooperation with the NHTSA
In response to the investigation, Ford stated that it is “working with NHTSA to support its investigation,” according to TechCrunch. Additionally, NHTSA recently announced another investigation into Tesla’s comparable Autopilot and Autosteer driver assistance features, which may also lack sufficient measures to ensure driver engagement and roadway monitoring, following a recent recall.
