The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has launched an investigation into Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving technology following two fatal crashes involving Mustang Mach-E electric SUVs. The investigation will focus on the safety of Mustang Mach-E vehicles from the 2021 through 2024 model years, encompassing approximately 130,000 cars.
Ford is cooperating with NHTSA in their investigation, which comes after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also opened separate investigations into the two Mach-E crashes. One crash occurred in San Antonio, Texas, while the other took place in Philadelphia. NHTSA confirmed that BlueCruise was engaged just before the collision in the Philadelphia crash, which both happened during nighttime lighting conditions.
BlueCruise, an advanced hands-free driving system that operates on 97% of U.S. and Canadian highways without intersections or traffic signals, was introduced by Ford in 2021. The NHTSA investigation will assess the system’s performance in the dynamic driving task and driver monitoring.
The technology is currently available in a range of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, offering drivers a convenient and potentially safer way to navigate long stretches of highway. However, the recent fatal crashes have raised concerns about the system’s reliability and overall safety.
As authorities delve into the details of these tragic incidents, Ford and NHTSA are working together to ensure that BlueCruise and similar technologies meet the highest safety standards. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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