Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise system was active before fatal Texas crash

Picture Credit: Ford

The motive force of a Mustang Mach-E who crashed right into a stationary automotive in Texas in February was utilizing Ford’s hands-free driver-assistance system, BlueCruise, in line with data obtained by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB).

It’s the primary recognized fatality ensuing from a crash involving the usage of BlueCruise, which Ford first introduced in 2021. The system permits drivers to take their fingers off the wheel on pre-mapped highways and makes use of eye-tracking to find out whether or not drivers are taking note of the highway.

The NTSB’s announcement that BlueCruise was energetic throughout the Texas crash comes simply at some point after the protection board introduced it’s probing a second fatal crash close to Philadelphia the place Ford’s driver-assistance system might have been energetic. Ford informed TechCrunch on the time that it reported the Texas crash to the Nationwide Freeway Visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) and that it was “actively researching all obtainable info.” The corporate declined to remark additional on Thursday.

That second crash additionally concerned the Ford impacting two stationary vehicles, elevating questions on whether or not the automaker’s driver-assistance system has an analogous drawback to what Tesla has handled for years with Autopilot. The NHTSA has spent nearly three years investigating greater than a dozen crashes the place Tesla drivers utilizing Autopilot have crashed into stationary emergency autos.

The February crash occurred simply exterior San Antonio. A 1999 Honda CR-V was stationary within the middle lane of Interstate 10 with no lights on at round 9:50 p.m. CT, when the Mustang Mach-E crashed into the again of it. The Honda flipped over and wound up within the left lane. The protection board stated Thursday that the Mustang driver “had been working the automobile in BlueCruise mode earlier than the crash.” The 56-year-old driver of the Honda died after being transferred to the San Antonio Navy Medical Heart, in line with the police report, whereas the motive force of the Mustang sustained “minor accidents.” Police discovered no indicators of intoxication within the Mustang driver. The NTSB stated one other driver missed the Honda moments earlier than the Mustang crashed into it.

The NTSB launched on Thursday what’s often known as a preliminary report and continues to be investigating the crash. A spokesperson stated a ultimate report is more likely to be printed inside 12 to 24 months. The NHTSA is also probing the Texas crash, in line with The Wall Road Journal.

This story has been up to date to notice that Ford declined to touch upon the brand new info from the NTSB.