Tesla has faced numerous investigations and questions about its drivers’ behavior while using its “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) tech, but now it’s Ford’s turn under the microscope. The Blue Oval’s BlueCruise system offers hands-free driving on limited-access highways and other roads, which is now under a Preliminary Evaluation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) after two reports of fatal collisions involving the system.
The evaluation comes after two fatal collisions in BlueCruise-capable Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Ford responded to the NHTSA, saying that it had sold more than 2.5 million BlueCruise-equipped vehicles under its brand and the Lincoln banner, most of which come with a lane-centering assist system. It combines with adaptive cruise control, forward collision warnings, and automatic emergency braking to offer the hands-free capability.
As part of the investigation, the NHTSA identified limitations in the BlueCruise system, including the fact that it can sometimes sound false alarms for objects at long distances. It also noted that the system’s performance can be limited in poor visibility or low-light conditions.
The two fatal Mustang Mach-E collisions occurred at night at speeds greater than 70 mph, and both vehicles collided with a stationary vehicle. Data from the vehicles’ onboard computers showed that neither driver attempted to brake or initiate evasive steering actions, and BlueCruise did not step in to slow the vehicles. Four other collisions were identified in which Ford vehicles collided with stationary or slow-moving vehicles in travel lanes, and other reports stated that the adaptive cruise control system failed to keep pace with or respond to other cars on the road.
[Images: Ford]
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