Federal auto regulators are examining Ford Motor’s driver assistance system following two fatal crashes reported by the safety agency. related to automation technology.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into Ford’s BlueCruise system, according to a filing made public Monday.
Both crashes involved a Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle striking a stationary car while on a highway overnight, according to the agency. An initial review by the agency confirmed that BlueCruise was in use before both collisions.
One person died in a collision in February in San Antonio and two people died in a crash in Philadelphia in March, the Associated Press reported.
A Ford spokesperson told Business Insider that the automaker is working with NHTSA to support the investigation.
The survey comes as the auto industry steps up its scrutiny of automated driver assistance systems, amid the rise of this new, imperfect technology.
Earlier this month, NHTSA launched a second investigation into Tesla’s popular driver assistance software, Autopilot, after several accidents involving the system. The agency is investigating whether Tesla’s December recall of 2 million Autopilot-equipped vehicles properly addressed safety risks.
In a recent report, the agency said it investigated 956 Tesla accidents between 2018 and 2023 in which the agency found Autopilot was involved, resulting in 29 deaths.
Tesla has not commented publicly on the new investigation. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tested 14 driving automation systems from nine manufacturers in a March study and found that “hands-free” devices can create new safety risks by allowing drivers from becoming easily distracted. Almost all systems, including Ford’s, received poor ratings.
Driver assistance systems are not yet fully autonomous and typically monitor steering, braking and acceleration on highways, although Ford and other automakers have stressed the importance of driver attention even when the software is used.
NHTSA’s investigation into BlueCruise will determine how well the software performs various driving tasks and evaluate its camera monitoring system.
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