Ford's BlueCruise Under Scrutiny After Fatal Crash
Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving tech have been under scrutiny for a while now over their repeated failure to stop collisions and monitor driver behavior. Now, it’s Ford’s turn under the spotlight with its BlueCruise system. The NTSB said it wants to find out if the system was in use when a Mustang Mach-E was involved in a deadly crash in San Antonio, Texas.
The Mach-E ran into a Honda CR-V stopped in a travel lane on Interstate 10, killing its driver, a 56-year-old man. Ford said it reported the incident to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as soon as it became aware of the crash and noted that it will cooperate fully with any investigation.
BlueCruise is advertised as a hands-free system, but it’s only Level 2 autonomy meaning the car can’t drive itself without an attentive human behind the wheel ready to take complete control at any time. The system works on limited-access highways, like Interstate 10, across North America, and owners pay a subscription fee for access to the feature.
This story comes shortly after the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s new research hit the streets, which found that many driver assistance functions, including BlueCruise, fail to adequately monitor driver behavior and give enough feedback when something goes wrong. A spokesperson for the IIHS said that while many drivers feel the features make their long drives easier, there’s very little evidence that they make the trip safer.
The IIHS rated BlueCruise Poor in the new tests, where it is joined by the Tesla Model 3, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Genesis G90, and Volvo S90. Only the Lexus LS earned an Acceptable score in the updated tests.
[Image: Ford]
Become a TTAC insider. Get the latest news, features, TTAC takes, and everything else that gets to the truth about cars first by subscribing to our newsletter.
Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
More by Chris Teague
Latest Car Reviews
Read moreLatest Product Reviews
Read moreRecent Comments
- Rover Sig 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited, like my previous JGC's cheap to keep (essentially just oil, tires) until recent episode of clunking in front suspension at 50K miles led to $3000 of parts replaced over fives visits to two Jeep dealers which finally bought a quiet front end. Most expensive repair on any vehicle I've owned in the last 56 years.
- Bob Hey Tassos, have you seen it with top down. It's a permanent roll bar so if it flips no problem. It's the only car with one permanently there. So shoots down your issue. I had a 1998 for 10 years it was perfect, but yes slow. Hardly ever see any of them anymore.
- 3-On-The-Tree 2007 Toyota Sienna bedsides new plugs, flat tire on I-10 in van Horn Tx on the way to Fort Huachuca.2021 Tundra Crewmax no issues2021 Rav 4 no issues2010 Corolla I put in a alternator in Mar1985 Toyota Land Cruiser FJ60 280,000mi I put in a new radiator back in 08 before I deployed, did a valve job, new fuel and oil pump. Leaky rear main seal, transmission, transfer case. Rebuild carb twice, had a recall on the gas tank surprisingly in 2010 at 25 years later.2014 Ford F159 Ecoboost 3.5L by 80,000mi went through both turbos, driver side leaking, passenger side completely replaced. Rear min seal leak once at 50,000 second at 80,000. And last was a timing chain cover leak.2009 C6 Corvette LS3 Base, I put in a new radiator in 2021.
- ChristianWimmer 2018 Mercedes A250 AMG Line (W177) - no issues or unscheduled dealer visits. Regular maintenance at the dealer once a year costs between 400,- Euros (standard service) to 1200,- Euros (major service, new spark plugs, brake pads + TÜV). Had one recall where they had to fix an A/C hose which might become loose. Great car and fun to drive and very economical but also fast. Recently gave it an “Italian tune up” on the Autobahn.
- Bd2 Lexus is just a higher trim package Toyota. ^^
Comments
Join the conversation
For those that care to read the details of the crash NOT included in this article but published elsewhere- this happened at nearly 10pm when the CRV was stopped in the center lane of travel, lights off, with the driver remaining in the car. Not only is it not known if Blue Cruise was being used, it would have been a nightmare for most alert human drivers to mitigate that driving the 70+mph speed limit on many sections of I-10 in Texas, much less an AV system.
Tragic. Where in the name of all that is holy did anybody get the idea that self-driving cars were a good idea? I get the desire for lane-keeping, and use it myself, occasionally, but I don't even like to look across the car at my passenger while driving, let along relinquish complete control.