Ford’s BlueCruise under investigation by NHTSA

• The ODI (Office of Defects Investigation) is in charge o this investigation.

• Two Ford Mustang Mach-Es are involved in these fatal accidents.

The U.S. federal agency NHTSA (for National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has opened a preliminary investigation into Ford after learning of two fatal accidents potentially linked to the BlueCruise semi-autonomous highway driving assistance system.

The device was first introduced in Ford and Lincoln vehicles in 2021, but it seems that the system is not yet fully developed. The ODI (Office of Defects Investigation), a division of NHTSA, oversees the investigation. The Office of Defects Investigation will determine whether NHTSA should proceed with a full investigation, or whether a recall should be initiated.

Both road accidents affect the Mustang Mach-E electric crossover and both vehicles were placed in BlueCruise mode at the time of the fatal collision in both cases.

As with other similar systems, the BlueCruise system allows the driver to let go of the steering wheel for an indefinite period, provided he or she is attentive to what is happening ahead. A fatigue detection system ensures that the driver is concentrating.

At this time, these semi-autonomous devices are not operating everywhere on the continent, with major freeways often the first roads targeted by these semi-autonomous driving devices.

This first ODI investigation will have to look at the system responsible for monitoring driver attention, as well as seeing whether BlueCruise can react adequately to the road environment.

One thing is for sure: semi-autonomous driving, although increasingly present in more upscale models, is not yet perfect in its execution. Manufacturers will have to find a way to make this technology more intuitive and safer, but before they do, there’s still a long way to go… with or without hands!