BlueCruise: Understanding Ford’s Hands-Free Highway Driving System

The world of automotive technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and Ford is leading the charge with BlueCruise, an advanced hands-free driving system designed to make highway driving safer, easier, and more convenient. Whether you’re on a long road trip or navigating your daily commute, BlueCruise offers an enhanced driving experience that allows you to take your hands off the wheel while keeping you safe and in control.

At Beach Ford, we’re excited to explore this cutting-edge technology and help you understand how BlueCruise works, what makes it different from traditional driver-assist systems, and why it’s the future of highway driving.

What is BlueCruise?

BlueCruise is Ford’s hands-free driving system that allows you to drive without having your hands on the steering wheel while on certain highways. Utilizing a combination of advanced sensors, cameras, and artificial intelligence, BlueCruise enables your vehicle to take over driving functions in specific conditions, providing a seamless and more relaxed highway driving experience.

The system uses Ford’s Co-Pilot360 technology and integrates features such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering, and road-edge detection to provide a fully hands-free experience in designated Blue Zones—a network of highways mapped out for BlueCruise functionality.

How BlueCruise Works

BlueCruise is a sophisticated system that works by utilizing a variety of sensors and cameras installed in your vehicle. Here’s how it operates:

1. Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane-Centering

When BlueCruise is activated, the system uses adaptive cruise control to maintain a set speed and distance from the vehicle ahead. It also uses lane-centering technology to keep the vehicle centered within its lane, ensuring smooth and steady driving. These features are constantly monitored and adjusted as needed, so you can relax without worrying about traffic flow or lane changes.

2. Blue Zones: Mapping for Hands-Free Driving

The key to BlueCruise’s success is its Blue Zones, a collection of highways that Ford has mapped for hands-free driving. These roads are equipped with the necessary infrastructure to allow BlueCruise to function safely, including proper lane markings, road conditions, and clear sightlines. Currently, BlueCruise works on over 130,000 miles of mapped highways across North America, and Ford continues to expand this network as more roads become eligible for hands-free driving.

3. Driver Monitoring and Safety

Even though BlueCruise allows for hands-free driving, it still requires the driver to remain engaged and attentive. The system uses an infrared camera mounted on the steering column to monitor your eyes and face. If it detects that you’re not paying attention to the road, it will send visual and audible alerts to remind you to stay engaged. If you continue to be unresponsive, BlueCruise will gradually slow down the vehicle and bring it to a safe stop.

Key Features of BlueCruise

1. Hands-Free Highway Driving

The standout feature of BlueCruise is its hands-free capability on eligible highways. Once activated, you can take your hands off the steering wheel, and the system will control speed, steering, and lane-keeping functions as long as the road is within a designated Blue Zone.

2. Ease of Use and Activation

Activating BlueCruise is simple. Once you’re driving on an eligible highway, you can press a button on the steering wheel to engage the system. The system will then take over and provide a smooth and comfortable driving experience. You can still use your vehicle’s traditional controls for manual adjustments if necessary, but BlueCruise does much of the work on its own.

3. Real-Time Updates and Over-the-Air Improvements

BlueCruise is constantly improving. Ford has built the system to be upgradable, and it can receive over-the-air updates to improve functionality and add new features. This means your vehicle will continue to improve over time, and Ford can roll out updates directly to your vehicle, enhancing the overall driving experience without requiring a trip to the dealership.

4. Enhanced Safety Features

Safety is always a priority, and BlueCruise is no exception. In addition to its driver-monitoring system, BlueCruise works alongside Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including:

• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Information System (BLIS)
• Lane-Keeping Assist

These systems work in harmony to keep you safe even when BlueCruise is in use.

Advantages of BlueCruise

1. Reduced Driver Fatigue

One of the biggest advantages of BlueCruise is its ability to reduce driver fatigue on long highway trips. The hands-free capability allows you to relax while your vehicle does most of the work. This is especially useful on long stretches of road where highway driving can become monotonous and tiresome.

2. Increased Safety

By removing the need for constant manual steering and speed adjustments, BlueCruise reduces the chances of human error. The system ensures that you remain safely within your lane and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, even in heavy traffic or at higher speeds.

3. Smooth Driving Experience

With BlueCruise’s smooth acceleration and deceleration, the system provides a more comfortable and seamless driving experience. No more sudden braking or jerky steering adjustments—BlueCruise ensures that you glide along the highway with ease.

Which Ford Vehicles Offer BlueCruise?

Currently, BlueCruise is available on select Ford models, including:

• Ford F-150
• Ford Mustang Mach-E
• Ford Explorer
• Ford Lightning
• Ford Expedition

Be sure to check with your Beach Ford dealership to see if BlueCruise is available on the model you’re interested in, and to learn how you can enable this feature in your vehicle.

Is BlueCruise Right for You?

BlueCruise represents the future of hands-free highway driving, combining cutting-edge technology, comfort, and safety into one powerful system. If you’re someone who spends a lot of time on the highway or loves long road trips, BlueCruise can greatly enhance your driving experience by allowing you to take your hands off the wheel and let your vehicle take over for a while.

However, it’s important to remember that BlueCruise is not a fully autonomous driving system. You must remain attentive and ready to take control if necessary. That said, it’s a significant step forward in the journey toward fully autonomous vehicles.

Visit Beach Ford to Learn More

If you’re ready to experience the future of driving with BlueCruise, visit Beach Ford to test drive a vehicle equipped with this hands-free driving technology. Our team is here to walk you through the system, show you how it works, and answer any questions you might have.

BlueCruise is just one of the many innovative technologies that make Ford a leader in the automotive industry. Don’t miss out on experiencing the next level of driving convenience and safety!

Beach Ford
Driving Innovation, Delivering Comfort

Ready to experience BlueCruise firsthand? Visit Beach Ford today and discover how hands-free highway driving can transform your journey.

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