The motive force of a Mustang Mach-E who crashed right into a stationary automobile in Texas in February was utilizing Ford’s hands-free driver-assistance system, BlueCruise, in line with information obtained by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB).
It’s the primary identified fatality ensuing from a crash involving the usage of BlueCruise, which Ford first introduced in 2021. The system permits drivers to take their arms 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 in the course of the Texas crash comes simply sooner or later after the security board introduced it’s probing a second deadly crash close to Philadelphia the place Ford’s driver-assistance system might have been energetic. Ford advised TechCrunch on the time that it reported the Texas crash to the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) and that it was “actively researching all obtainable data.” 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 the same downside to what Tesla has handled for years with Autopilot. The NHTSA has spent practically three years investigating greater than a dozen crashes the place Tesla drivers utilizing Autopilot have crashed into stationary emergency automobiles.
The February crash occurred simply exterior San Antonio. A 1999 Honda CR-V was stationary within the heart 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 security board stated Thursday that the Mustang driver “had been working the car 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 driving 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 referred to as a preliminary report and continues to be investigating the crash. A spokesperson stated a last report is more likely to be printed inside 12 to 24 months. The NHTSA can also be probing the Texas crash, in line with The Wall Avenue Journal.
This story has been up to date to notice that Ford declined to touch upon the brand new data from the NTSB.
