Ford solved one of BlueCruise's biggest problems

The Detroit-based automaker has given its self-driving software a major boost with the 1.5 update

KimKardashian

Dec 17, 2024 - 11:52

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Ford solved one of BlueCruise's biggest problems

Ford recently unveiled BlueCruise 1.5 and fixed one of the system’s biggest shortcomings in the process. While the system previously allowed users to take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals, they would still have to manage one of the most common motorway tasks, but now that won't always be the case.

BlueCruise will now handle lane changes on its own in most circumstances. This means when the car in front of you is going noticeably slower than the speed you’ve set, and the lane beside you is clear, the vehicle will automatically indicate and move over.

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45% of the time, BlueCruise will change lanes for you every time

The Detroit-based manufacturer says that testing showed BlueCruise was able to handle lane changes on its own around 45% of the time. When an automatic lane change is taking place, the driver will be alerted but unlike the suggested lane changes that cropped up previously, everything else will be handled by the system.

Ford says that the update will result in users keeping their hands off the wheel longer than they could previously, all while maintaining a “smooth, natural, driving experience.”

You don’t have to let it happen

Of course, as with other current self-driving systems, the driver is still in control. Just as tapping the brake will take you out of BlueCruise and cruise control altogether, tapping the turn signal in the opposite direction of the lane change will cancel the vehicle’s action.

You can also turn the auto lane change option off in your BlueCruise settings, which pretty much leaves the system as it was previously.

There is still quite a long way to go to perfection

While this is a major step forward for Ford’s system, there is still a long way to go before you get to full self-driving. The use case Ford provides involves a BlueCruise-enabled car going 55 mph and encountering a slower truck ahead of it in the lane. Normally, the cruise control system would slow the car down to the truck’s speed and await driver input.

With the new update, the BlueCruise-enabled vehicle will move over automatically and continue going at its set speed in half of the test scenarios. However, this doesn’t work all of the time and seems to be limited to this context. That means the system won’t move over for upcoming exits, splitting motorways, police, tow trucks, and broken-down vehicles on the shoulder. It’s a level 2 system, so you can’t get too comfortable. You are still very much in charge of it.

Final thoughts

This is good news all around from Ford. The auto lane-change feature goes towards solving a very annoying problem with the system and a price drop is always welcome. The ability to buy BlueCruise outright is also interesting, and we’ll find that plenty of drivers will stump up the extra cash if only to avoid a monthly fee for what is one of Ford’s best high-end options.

Does this make BlueCruise the best level 2 system now? No, it’s more playing catch-up than anything. GM and Mercedes’ respective Level 2 systems have had this feature for a while. However, many systems still rely on a driver confirming a lane change or have no auto lane change feature to speak of so this update firmly puts BlueCruise on the higher end of things.