US investigators have made a significant revelation regarding Ford’s semi-autonomous driving technology, BlueCruise, which was reportedly in use during a fatal crash involving a Mustang Mach-E. The incident has prompted heightened scrutiny of the safety and efficacy of such systems. Ford’s BlueCruise system, akin to Tesla’s Full Self-Driving software, is designed to facilitate automatic acceleration, braking, and lane changes on designated highways across the US and Canada.
However, unlike Tesla’s software, BlueCruise is restricted to predesignated routes. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) initiated an investigation following a tragic crash near San Antonio, Texas, where a Mustang Mach-E collided with a stationary Honda CR-V, resulting in the death of the latter’s driver. Initial reports indicated that the Ford was operating under “partial automation” at the time of the incident.
Subsequent findings from the NTSB confirmed the involvement of Ford’s BlueCruise semi-autonomous driving system leading up to the fatal crash. Witness testimonies revealed that the stationary Honda’s malfunctioning brake lights contributed to the collision, with the Mustang Mach-E failing to alter its course despite the sudden obstacle.
In a separate development, the NTSB has launched another investigation into a fatal crash involving a Mustang Mach-E in Philadelphia. This incident, similar to the San Antonio crash, involved the Ford striking two stationary vehicles, resulting in the deaths of both drivers. Ford will cooperate with authorities as the investigation progresses.
Notably, Ford’s BlueCruise system is not available in Australia due to regulatory constraints prohibiting the use of hands-free semi-autonomous driving technologies. The incident underscores broader concerns surrounding the safety of semi-autonomous driving systems, with Tesla’s Autopilot also facing scrutiny from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Over the past few years, more than 40 investigations have been launched into Tesla crashes allegedly involving Autopilot, resulting in numerous fatalities.
