Two fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise partially automated driving system have resulted in an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The crashes, which took place in Texas and Philadelphia, resulted in the deaths of three people. The investigation will evaluate how the Blue Cruise system performs driving tasks and its camera-based driver monitoring system. Ford has stated that its driving systems do not replace human drivers, who must be prepared to take control at any time.
The National Transportation Safety Board is also involved in the investigation of the San Antonio crash, which occurred on Interstate 10. The NTSB’s preliminary report indicated that the vehicle was operating on the Blue Cruise system at the time of the crash. The crash resulted in the death of a 56-year-old driver of a Honda CR-V. The NTSB intends to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes and highlight the importance of driver interaction with advanced driver assistance systems.
In the Philadelphia crash, which took place in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95, two people were killed. The crash involved a Ford Mustang Mach-E striking a stationary Hyundai Elantra and a Toyota Prius. The driver of the Prius, who was outside of his vehicle, was struck and thrown into the southbound lanes during the collision. Both victims, males ages 21 and 20, were pronounced dead at the scene. A criminal investigation is underway, and there is a possibility of a charge of homicide by motor vehicle while driving under the influence against the 23-year-old woman driving the Mach-E.
Ford’s Blue Cruise system allows drivers to take their hands off the steering wheel while it handles steering, braking, and acceleration on highways. However, the system is not fully autonomous and requires drivers to pay attention to the road. While it operates on 97% of controlled access highways in the U.S. and Canada, there are no fully autonomous vehicles for sale to the public in the U.S. Both NHTSA and the NTSB have investigated multiple crashes involving partially automated driving systems, highlighting the importance of driver monitoring and interaction with these systems.
The NHTSA has also been investigating issues with Tesla’s Autopilot automated system, which was the subject of a December recall. The recall was initiated due to an inadequate driver monitoring system that posed safety risks. NHTSA found 467 crashes involving Autopilot, resulting in 54 injuries and 14 deaths. These investigations underscore the importance of ensuring the safety and effectiveness of partially automated driving systems to prevent future tragedies on the road. Ford has stated that it is cooperating with NHTSA to support the ongoing investigation into the crashes involving its Blue Cruise system.
