Ford BlueCruise Fatal Crash Probe: Driver Distraction, System Failure to Brake

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed that in two fatal crashes involving Ford’s BlueCruise system earlier in 2024, drivers were distracted before impact. In one incident, the driver was fixated on the center console navigation screen; in the other, the driver was intoxicated and holding a phone, deliberately evading the driver monitoring system. Neither vehicle activated Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB). Ford stated that its AEB system, due to technical limitations, cannot reliably detect stationary vehicles. The NTSB will hold a hearing on March 31 and may issue recommendations to Ford for corrective actions. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also launched an investigation, noting that BlueCruise exhibits detection deficiencies under certain conditions. Ford emphasized that the feature is merely a driver assistance system—not a collision-avoidance system—and that drivers must remain attentive at all times.