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Ford's BlueCruise Under NHTSA Scrutiny After Fatal Collisions: Investigating Driver Assistance System Performance
The NHTSA is investigating Ford's BlueCruise driver assistance system following two fatal collisions. BlueCruise allows hands-free driving on certain roads. The investigation will focus on driver monitoring and overall system performance.
Ford Mustang Mach-E cars collided with stationary vehicles at night while the system was engaged. BlueCruise is a driver assistance technology that allows hands-free driving on certain roads, typically motorways.
Ford has stated that it is cooperating with the NHTSA's investigation. The first crash occurred in February when a Ford Mustang Mach-E using BlueCruise hit the rear of a stationary Honda, resulting in the death of the driver of the stopped car. The second crash involving a Ford Mach-E occurred in March in Philadelphia.
BlueCruise utilises eye-tracking cameras to monitor driver attention and prompts them to take control of the vehicle if it detects any lapse in focus. The NHTSA's preliminary probe will focus on the driver monitoring aspect of the system, as well as its overall performance in driving tasks. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is separately investigating the two crashes that prompted the NHTSA's probe.
While BlueCruise has been approved for use on certain UK motorways, experts note that there are differences in its implementation and the regulations governing its use. In the UK, it is currently the only permitted driver assistance technology that allows hands to be taken off the wheel. However, the system only operates on specified sections of road and up to a maximum speed of 81mph (130kmh).
The UK government approved the "hands off, eyes on" feature last April, with transport minister Jesse Norman stating that driver assistance systems can make driving smoother and safer by reducing the potential for driver error. The Department for Transport has not commented on the US investigation but has affirmed that the approval for Ford's BlueCruise system in the UK followed a rigorous examination and assessment process.
The NHTSA's investigation into driver assistance systems and their performance comes after its announcement of an investigation into the effectiveness of Tesla's fix for safety issues in its Autopilot driver assistance system. Both BlueCruise and Autopilot are examples of Level 2 autonomous driving software, which involve partial automation of driving tasks.
In January, the BBC's technology editor, Zoe Kleinman, tested the hands-free technology of BlueCruise on the M25, one of the UK's busiest motorways. She described the experience as simultaneously relaxing and stressful, as she was not in control of the vehicle traveling at 70 mph but also knew she didn't have to be. However, she noted that the moment she stopped watching the road, BlueCruise deactivated, requiring her to take back control.
Kleinman also observed that the system took some actions she wouldn't have, such as undertaking in the left-hand lane and appearing to speed up on slip-roads when exiting the motorway, leading her to intervene by touching the brakes.
The NHTSA is investigating Ford's BlueCruise driver assistance system following two fatal collisions.
BlueCruise allows hands-free driving on certain roads.
The investigation will focus on driver monitoring and overall system performance.
Source: BBC