BlueCruise Under Investigation

[steelersmb]

I just saw this:

https://techcrunch.com/2024/04/29/ford-bluecruise-investigation-nhtsa-fatal-crashes/

I use mine all the time and I love it. It's not as good as Tesla's on the interstate but I also don't have to keep my hands on the wheel the entire time.

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[SmoothJ]

Tesla has had their issues too, so this isn't new in the autonomous driving world. Just need to pay attention to the road...

 

[Dan C]

I seldom use mine, I just don't trust it. I don't think it behaves properly particularly around curves on the freeway

 

[Henry Ford]

The new probe comes just days after ODI closed its most high-profile driver-assistance investigation to date. The safety agency initially opened an investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot in 2021 after multiple reports of Teslas crashing into stationary emergency vehicles while the drivers were using Autopilot. In closing the investigation, ODI said last week that it determined a “critical safety gap between drivers’ expectations of [Autopilot’s] operating capabilities and the system’s true capabilities” created “foreseeable misuse and avoidable crashes.”

I agree with the bolded quote 100%. Advanced driver's aids are too complex to use effectively and safely without training. I have two vehicles with BlueCruise and received precisely zero training before being given full rein to do what I want with them. I'm super interested in the technology and did a lot of reading about the system as well as trial and error to determine it's capabilities. I suspect I'm in the minority.

I hit a truck tire on the highway while BlueCruise was active. BlueCruise did nothing to avoid the tire, nor did I expect it to because I had taken the time to understand the system's capabilities. In my estimation there was no way to avoid the tire no matter who was driving.

In the airline industry it is absolutely critical that pilots know exactly what a system can and can't do. They are training and tested on their knowledge before ever flying passengers. Boeing has and will continue to lose billions of dollars because they didn't tell pilots about a new system called MCAS before it activated based on faulty data and pointing TWO airplanes at the ground. Had the pilots known about the capabilities of MCAS those flights would have been completed with only a maintenance write-up. I digress.

I'm guessing an extremely large percentage of advanced driver's aid users have little to no idea of what the aids are and aren't capable of. I think it is worthwhile to fill the knowledge gap of all BlueCruise/Autopilot/etc type systems. I'm not sure how that happens. Recall to force drivers to watch a training video??

 

[Henry Ford]

I seldom use mine, I just don't trust it. I don't think it behaves properly particularly around curves on the freeway

You wrote this while I was writing my post above but it illustrates my point. Assuming there's nothing broken on your truck, the system is working as it's designed. When it can't navigate a situation in the current level of automation it tells you to switch to the appropriate level of automation using an instrument panel message or a message and aural alert.

If a driver understands what level of automation he or she is in and it's capabilities it makes sense and is a useful tool. If they don't, they won't use it (this is the safe behavior) or misuse it (unsafe).

@Dan C I'm picking on you, just building on what I said above. We could and maybe should have a thread about BlueCruise levels of automation and their capabilities.

 

[The Weatherman]

With current version ultra short attention warnings is near to impossible not to stay alert and focused on the road ahead.

I recognize its limitations and don’t expect it drive autonomously.

That said I am very very disappointed in Fords inability or unwillingness to deliver promised improvements.

 

[Adventureboy]

I use BlueCruise all the time. I RARELY take my hands off the wheel, and I NEVER stop paying attention - it is not autonomous driving. For the most part, it is good and can make the trip a bit less stressful.
When the idiot crosses 3 lanes to get to an exit that he's passing, there is no BlueCruise solution.
Watch the idiots yourself and you be more likely to make it to the other end in one piece ;-)

I keep hoping for the BC updates, but I will still watch the idiots, no matter how good BC gets (or doesn't)

 

[davehu]

I'll never use bluecruise. I enjoy driving and having a career in the computer industry wouldn't trust one to drive my car. just saying.... but having said that 95% of my driving is local so I really can't use it anyway

 

[Deleted member 16876]

I'll never use bluecruise. I enjoy driving and having a career in the computer industry wouldn't trust one to drive my car. just saying.... but having said that 95% of my driving is local so I really can't use it anyway

I get more stressed out when i use BC than when i don't. It's erratic CAN'T TRUST it

 

[ashadkc9]

This thread acts like when enabled, BlueCruise ties your hands behind your back and won't let you touch the steering wheel. Countless hours of using the technology, and I can honestly say that only a couple of times have I had to correct it. It is an AID and not a REPLACEMENT to driving.

 

[Tony Burgh]

I'll never use bluecruise. I enjoy driving and having a career in the computer industry wouldn't trust one to drive my car. just saying.... but having said that 95% of my driving is local so I really can't use it anyway

Page 288 of the Owners Manual spells out what you’re saying.
I spent my career implementing SCADA in chemical plants. I use Blue Cruise on the highways to supplement, not replace, my driving, especially at night. I hope that it recognizes situations that I may not. APC took some tedious work load from our operators but they had their butts in the seats at the control panels. Maybe it relieves a little eye strain for me.

 

[BlueLightning]

Well BlueCruze, FSD or nothing it doesn’t matter as distracted driving is more than that. Passed three people with their eyes and head down the whole time I passed them on my 6 mile drive home from work today. That’s three potential head on accidents waiting to happen with the drivers thinking whatever is on their phone is more important than just driving. Wake up America!

 

[Scorpio3d]

AMEN!
I was very very hesitant when I first got my lightning, but was driving pretty much straight through from Maryland to Texas with a quick stop in Georgia pretty much I slept while I was charging. I decided I would go ahead and give it a try however, I never completely took my hands off the wheel for 99% of the time I was using blue Cruise I just put one of them on the bottom of the steering wheel-just in case! Overall, it works very well, but as others have stated it is not autonomous driving it is driver assistance!!! A few times it stopped working and told me to take control and whenever there was a sweeping turn I usually put both hands on the wheel just in case it seems to have a little issue with that. I felt overall it was a little less stressful, but I still always watch out for the idiots which apparently are all over the country. It was bad before Covid but I think people forgot how to drive when they were staying home. It has been much worse after Covid.

 

[Heliian]

Blue cruise works great and I really enjoy using it. Makes my drive more confortable and relaxed.
It's a great aid to have and it's not hard to use.

 

[Dan C]

You wrote this while I was writing my post above but it illustrates my point. Assuming there's nothing broken on your truck, the system is working as it's designed. When it can't navigate a situation in the current level of automation it tells you to switch to the appropriate level of automation using an instrument panel message or a message and aural alert.

If a driver understands what level of automation he or she is in and it's capabilities it makes sense and is a useful tool. If they don't, they won't use it (this is the safe behavior) or misuse it (unsafe).

@Dan C I'm picking on you, just building on what I said above. We could and maybe should have a thread about BlueCruise levels of automation and their capabilities.

Having been an automotive technician for 40 years, I do have knowledge and expectations. If the truck is incapable of making a sweeping turn and not stay in the center of the lane it needs work. I'll use it when it is better.

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