NTSB Calls for Enhanced Oversight of Ford's Automated Driving Safety
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 hours ago
0mins
The National Transportation Safety Board called for standardized performance requirements and greater oversight to improve the safety of automated vehicle technology. The NTSB investigated two fatal 2024 crashes in which vehicles using Ford Motor Company's (F) hands-free partial automation system, BlueCruise, failed to stop for stationary vehicles. In a public meeting Tuesday to consider the investigations, the NTSB concluded that the drivers' overreliance on the automated system contributed to both crashes. In a Feb. 24, 2024, crash in San Antonio, a Ford traveling east in the center lane of Interstate 10 struck a stationary 1999 Honda CR-V (HMC). The Honda driver was killed, and the Ford driver sustained minor injuries. In a March 3, 2024, crash in Philadelphia, a Ford traveling north in the left lane of Interstate 95 struck two stationary vehicles-a 2012 Hyundai Elantra (HYMLF) and a 2006 Toyota Prius (TM) -causing them to collide with a passing Toyota Corolla. The drivers of the Prius and Elantra were killed. The Ford driver sustained minor injuries, and the Corolla driver was uninjured. In both crashes, no driver-applied or system-initiated braking or steering was recorded in the moments before impact. The NTSB found several gaps in safety and oversight of partial automation systems. There are no federal requirements for these systems to record data during crashes, which often means that manufacturers lack the needed information to comply with NHTSA's standing general order requiring them to report crashes involving this technology. Without manufacturer awareness and consistent data, critical information about these crashes remains inaccessible to regulators, investigators, law enforcement and safety groups. The NTSB issued recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA and Ford calling for: stronger federal guidelines and performance standards for safety features of partial automation systems, crash data recording and automatic crash notification requirements, improved driver monitoring systems to detect distraction, and changes to Ford's BlueCruise system to reduce excessive speeding and improve driver attention. Other publicly traded companies making autonomous vehicle technology include Tesla (TSLA), Waymo (GOOGL), Zoox (AMZN), Baidu (BIDU), and Pony AI (PONY).
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Analyst Views on F
Wall Street analysts forecast F stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
10 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 11.210
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
Current: 11.210
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
About F
Ford Motor Company is an automobile company. The Company develops and delivers Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The Company’s segments include Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro, and Ford Credit. The Ford Blue segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Model e segment primarily includes the sale of its electric vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Pro segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, accessories, and services for commercial, government, and rental customers. The Ford Credit segment consists of the Ford Credit business on a consolidated basis, which is primarily vehicle-related financing and leasing activities. Its vehicle brands are Ford and Lincoln.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Lack of Safety Standards: The agency pointed out existing gaps in oversight for automated vehicle technology and called for standardized performance requirements to ensure the safety of all road users, emphasizing the urgent need for stronger safety standards.
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See More
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- Manufacturer Incentive Spending: Manufacturers' incentive spending per vehicle is projected to reach $3,325, an increase of $165 from last year, indicating that manufacturers still have room to incentivize new vehicle purchases, reflecting the competitive nature of the market.
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See More
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- Integrated Technology Enhancements: The new service allows users to integrate onX apps directly into their vehicle screens via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, enabling offline map downloads in areas without cell service, thereby enhancing navigation capabilities for Ford owners in remote locations and improving customer satisfaction.
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See More
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