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In February this 12 months, a 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E struck a stationary Honda CR-V on a Texas freeway. The Honda driver sustained deadly accidents, whereas the Mach-E driver survived with minor accidents.
The affect was so extreme that it reworked the CR-V right into a mangled piece of steel and in addition brought about vital injury to the entrance of the Mach-E, prompting an investigation by the Nationwide Transportation Security Board (NTSB).
Driving help programs beneath the microscope.
From misuse by drivers to deceptive promoting by OEMs, driving help programs from Tesla and its rivals have prompted a string of federal investigations into the security and feasibility of the expertise.
Yesterday, the NTSB confirmed in a preliminary report that the Mach-E had BlueCruise activated in the course of the crash. BlueCruise is Ford’s Degree 2 driving help system, akin to Tesla’s Autopilot.
Ford claims that BlueCruise can operate on 97% of controlled-access highways throughout the U.S. and Canada, encompassing over 130,000 miles.
In keeping with the NTSB, the accident occurred on the evening of February 24, 2024, on Interstate 10 (I-10) in San Antonio, Texas. The CR-V was stationary within the middle of the freeway with a 56-year-old driver inside—its tail and hazards lights apparently off.
The Mach-E, presumed to be touring on the posted pace restrict of 70 miles per hour, rear-ended the CR-V, inflicting it to overturn and be thrown into the left lane.
A witness knowledgeable the NTSB that she seen the stationary CR-V whereas driving within the middle lane of the freeway. She instantly switched lanes to keep away from colliding with the SUV and confirmed that its tail or hazard lights weren’t on.
Shortly after, she noticed one other automotive rear-end the SUV by her rearview mirror. The NTSB acknowledged that the climate was clear, and this particular part of the freeway was illuminated.
The “hands-free” system, as per Ford’s description, is meant to “cut back driving stress.” As soon as engaged, it may possibly take over acceleration, braking, and steering on particular highways throughout North America.
Nonetheless, the system falls beneath the Degree 2 classification from the globally acknowledged engineering requirements group, SAE Worldwide. Degree 2 programs, by definition, require fixed driver supervision and readiness to take management always.
This crash is the primary of the 2 ongoing NTSB investigations into the Mach-E’s driving help system. The second crash befell in Philadelphia, the place a Mach-E suspected of driving with BlueCruise activated struck a stationary Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Prius, killing each their drivers.
As an rising variety of EVs outfitted with driving help programs are pouring onto the roads, we’re seeing extra such incidents—a number of investigations involving Tesla’s Autopilot and Full-Self Driving programs are additionally underway.
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