Hands-free driving technology is still new, but automakers keep making improvements, and new technology just keeps getting better. The latest vehicles are now coming with a hands-free driving system, and Ford's is called BlueCruise. But what exactly is BlueCruise, and how does it work? Let's take a closer look at what this system can do and how it benefits you.
What Exactly Is BlueCruise?
Ford's BlueCruise is an advanced driver-assist system. This means that your Ford can do some of the driving for you — but not all of it. There are six levels of autonomous driving:
- Level 0: No automated driving technology.
- Level 1: At least one driver-assist system. The vehicle will provide braking or steering assistance, but you're responsible for driving.
- Level 2: Partial driving automation. Advanced driving systems are capable of taking over the acceleration, steering, and braking of your vehicle under certain circumstances. You must still remain alert.
- Level 3: Conditional automation. Driver-assist systems and artificial intelligence can make driving decisions. You don't have to stay engaged. This level of autonomous driving is not legal in the U.S.
- Level 4: High driving automation. No human interaction is needed for operation.
- Level 5: Full automation. This is the highest level. A vehicle can drive itself in any condition without any human intervention.
The latest version of Ford's BlueCruise is a Level 2 system. It uses an adaptive cruise control system and a lane-centering assist system to keep your Ford vehicle centered in its lane and a certain distance away from the other vehicles on the highway.
BlueCruise works on certain divided highways across the United States. As of summer 2023, there are several thousand miles of available highways where you can take your hands off the wheel and let your Ford take over the driving, as long as you keep paying attention and are ready to take back over at any moment.
How Does BlueCruise Work?
The system uses several cameras and radars along with a global positioning system (GPS) system and a comprehensive database of maps. Ford vehicles that are equipped with BlueCruise have a forward-facing camera to see the road ahead, and the GPS and map database provide information about when your vehicle is on one of the approved highways. These are called Blue Zones. When your Ford is in a Blue Zone, it will let you know by texting you, and a blue light will illuminate on the instrument panel.
If you decide you want to use BlueCruise, you just need to activate the technology. As long as the conditions are right, the BlueCruise system will take control of the vehicle, and you can let go of the steering wheel and take your foot off the gas. The adaptive cruise control system with stop-and-go, speed sign recognition, and lane-centering assist will take control of the acceleration, braking, and steering.
What About the Driver?
Since BlueCruise is a Level 2 system, when driving, you need to stay alert and pay attention to the road ahead. There is a driver-monitoring system in the vehicle that observes your head position and your eyes to make sure you're paying attention to the road. If it senses that you're becoming tired — for example, if your eyes start to close or if you start to do any other activities while behind the wheel, such as looking down at your phone — the system will send a warning. If you don't pay attention to the road soon after the warning, the system will stop operating.
Which Ford Vehicles Come With BlueCruise?
Ford BlueCruise is available with certain trims on several different models. You can get it with the:
- Mustang Mach-E.
- F-150 Pickup Truck.
- F-150 Lightning Truck.
- Expedition SUV.
What's Next for BlueCruise?
The latest version of BlueCruise is called BlueCruise 1.2. It comes standard with the 2023 Mach-E and has some new features. The three big updates include:
- Lane-change assist: This semi-automatically changes lanes when on the highway if you tap or engage the turn signal.
- In-lane repositioning: This automatically shifts the lane location of your vehicle when passing a tractor-trailer or if another driver is driving too close to the line next to you.
- Predictive speed assist: This automatically slows your vehicle when approaching a corner or if it reads a speed limit sign with a different speed.
The latest system is also capable of suggesting a lane change when you're in control of the car and there's a vehicle in front of you moving slowly while traffic in other lanes is moving faster. It can move you into an exit-only lane and will continue to operate without driver intervention until the exit lane starts to leave the highway. At this point, it will switch back to the hands-on mode but still use the cruise control. To deactivate cruise control, you must manually press the brake or the button on the steering wheel.
A Top-Rated Active Driving-Assist System
In a recent test by Consumer Reports, Ford's BlueCruise Active Driving System came out on top. It beat GM's Super Cruise system and even Tesla's Autopilot system. The reason Ford's system rated so highly is partly because of the driver-monitoring system that requires you to keep your eyes on the road. This function makes it safer and, according to Consumer Reports, is a key function of any active driver-assist system.
The testing took place on a 50-mile stretch of road, and each system was rated based on its performance in 40 different tests. The tests included steering the car, keeping the driver safe, and controlling the speed.
Ready To Try Ford BlueCruise for Yourself?
If you want to find out more about Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology, stop by Sioux Falls Ford in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and speak with one of our sales staff. They can fill you in on how it all works and show you the Ford vehicles that offer it. Make sure to take one out for a test drive so you can see how it works.