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US safety regulators expand Ford hands-free driving tech investigation

Jan 23, 2025
A federal safety regulator is intensifying its investigation into Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. This comes in response to two fatal accidents linked to the system's detection challenges. The potential for a recall looms large, raising critical safety issues surrounding advanced driver assistance systems. As the probe unfolds, it sheds light on the broader implications for automotive technology and consumer safety.
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Quick takeaways

  • The NHTSA has intensified its investigation into Ford's BlueCruise due to safety concerns related to its handling of stationary vehicles.
  • Debates surrounding advanced driver assistance systems like Ford's BlueCruise highlight the critical need for robust safety mechanisms in modern technology.

Deep dives

Investigation into Ford's Blue Cruise System

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has intensified its investigation into Ford's Blue Cruise, a hands-free advanced driver assistance system, due to its involvement in two fatal crashes. This escalation to an engineering analysis indicates a deeper scrutiny into the system's capabilities and limitations, particularly regarding its detection of stationary vehicles. Evidence has surfaced showing that Blue Cruise struggled to accurately identify stationary objects at high speeds and in low visibility conditions, raising safety concerns. Approximately 129,222 Mustang Mach-E vehicles are equipped with this technology, prompting Ford to collaborate with NHTSA as the investigation unfolds.

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