Federal authorities investigate Ford BlueCruise after deadly Mustang Mach-E crash

Feds Probe Ford BlueCruise Following Fatal Mustang Mach-E Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a fatal crash involving a Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with Ford’s Level 2 driver assistance system, BlueCruise. The incident occurred on I-10 near San Antonio, Texas last month, where the Mustang Mach-E collided with a Honda CR-V stopped in the center lane of the interstate around 10 PM. The stationary CR-V was reportedly without lights on, which may have hindered the Mach-E’s cameras from detecting the object and activating Automatic Emergency Braking.

Ford’s BlueCruise is central to the investigation, as it is marketed as a “hands-free highway driving feature” on prequalified sections of divided highways. With over 130,000 miles of mapped roads in North America compatible with the hands-free feature, including a large portion of highway I-10 near San Antonio, the investigation aims to determine if the feature was engaged during the crash.

Even though BlueCruise is classified as a Level 2 driver-assistance system, the person behind the wheel is still responsible for the vehicle’s operation. Reports suggest that the Mach-E involved in the crash had the “partial autonomy” feature active, but it is unclear if the hands-off feature was in use during the collision. The NTSB requires notification of fatal accidents involving Level 2 driver-assistance systems if they were engaged 30 seconds before the crash.

Ford began including BlueCruise hardware on most compatible vehicles towards the end of last year. If the feature was active in the Mach-E during the crash, investigators aim to determine what transpired leading up to the accident. A preliminary report detailing the findings of the NTSB’s investigation is expected to be released in approximately a month.

The investigation is primarily focused on advanced driver assistance systems and how drivers interact with such technologies. NTSB’s Special Investigations Branch of the Office of Highway Safety will be examining the wreck, assessing the accident site, and studying the events preceding the collision in San Antonio.

It is noted that most driver assistance systems, including those with Automatic Emergency Braking, often overlook stationary objects. This is due to radar systems typically tracking moving objects and disregarding stationary ones. With the car’s vision-based camera potentially failing to detect the CR-V, and the radar system ignoring stationary objects, it is possible that the parked vehicle without lights was unnoticed until the collision.

For now, the investigation remains ongoing to gather more details about the crash. Once concluded, a preliminary report from the NTSB will shed light on the incident and any conclusions reached.