NTSB States the Obvious: Hands-Free Driving doesn't Help Safety

[Blue_Max]

https://apnews.com/article/ford-blue-cruise-ntsb-autonomous-crash-00680c04c9201f3967848b6316ff6a90

Excerpt:

The systems that allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel are convenient but don’t improve safety because people are often too reliant on them and end up paying more attention to their cellphones and infotainment screens than to the road, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board said Tuesday.

At Tuesday’s hearing on two fatal crashes involving Ford’s Blue Cruise system, the NTSB recommended that Ford find ways to improve the way its system monitors drivers, and urged the federal government to establish minimum safety standards. Even though this investigation focused on these Ford crashes, the board made clear that their concerns apply across the industry.

“These systems function primarily as convenience features rather than safety enhancements,” NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said.

The 2024 crashes in Texas and Pennsylvania killed three people when Ford Mustang Mach-E SUVs slammed into stopped vehicles. In both cases, the drivers were distracted in ways the system failed to recognize. The Texas driver only briefly glanced at the road while searching for a charging station, and the Pennsylvania driver appeared focused on the cellphone she was holding on top of the steering wheel in front of her.

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[matmondro]

Just like AI, unfortunately people are relying on it too much as a replacement, rather than just an aid.

 

[Pointyears]

There's no difference to me between screwing with your phone and screwing with a touch screen. Bring back analog controls!

 

[matmondro]

There's no difference to me between screwing with your phone and screwing with a touch screen. Bring back analog controls!

I want knobs, levers, and physical buttons again! So much better than this touchscreen junk.

 

[tiktokbrainrot]

I want knobs, levers, and physical buttons again! So much better than this touchscreen junk.

Really how hard would it be to offer it as an option? They have at least 2 configs for the maverick already, one with pro assist and one without, and they have different buttons. So why not offer us the option to add our own? It should be like USB: so long as the controller speaks in OBDII it should work.

Then those of us that miss the clearly superior three knob system could have it back.

 

[OleFordGuy]

I fully agree with the NTSB.

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