BlueCruise Lane Changes - Un-Natural Behavior Almost Got Me Rear-Ended

[MellowJohnny]

Let me start off by mentioning the guy behind me was following too closely, but the way BlueCruise changed lanes was unexpected and completely un-natural behviour.

While on the highway this week I came up on slower traffic (two cars about 10 car lengths apart) in the right lane and initiated a lane change to pass. After passing the first slower car I noticed a car coming up fast behind me. There was more than enough space between the two slower cars, so I decided to move over to let the guy behind me pass before I overtook the second slow car in the right lane. Slot in behind, wait for the guy going Mach 2 to pass me, then I'd pass the second car.

The dangerous part came as I requested a lane change from the left lane back to the right lane, to slot in behind the slower traffic. As soon as I signaled the lane change, BlueCruise hit the brakes pretty hard in order to adjust my speed to match the slower right lane traffic, and maintain distance between our cars.

The dangerous part was I was still in the left lane!

I immediately hit the gas and looked in my rear view mirror in time to see the guy behind me hammer the brakes - like I could see the front of the car dive under braking. I completed the lane change myself, after accelerating.

In fairness the guy behind was going quite fast, but he must of thought I was brake-checking him. Completely un-natural decision for the car to make.

So while I understand what Blue Cruise was trying to do - slow me down to match the slower right lane traffic prior to merging back, it was really not natural and I came close to getting rear-ended.

@Ford Motor Company - may be an interesting scenario for the BC Team to have a look at.

Moral of the story, and this has been reiterated over and over again on this forum, you are still driving the car. Be ready for weirdness. And if you were behind me on the 401 on Monday, I'll pay for your dry cleaning

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[RickMachE]

Glad you included "you are still driving the car". Yes, the car will slow much more aggressively than a human driver. But that's not new, so anticipate it and keep pressure on the accelerator.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

This is a good illustration for why hybrid driving is a bad idea. The human trying to do the human thing and the car is executing a set piece maneuver. Mixing the two is not a great idea. Maybe disengage, do your thing, then reengage?

I really try to use bc, and am a believer in autonomous driving, but almost always get disappointed and disengage.

 

[MellowJohnny]

Glad you included "you are still driving the car". Yes, the car will slow much more aggressively than a human driver. But that's not new, so anticipate it and keep pressure on the accelerator.

I've actually come pretty accustomed to "letting the car drive" but using the accelerator for times when I want more control over the dynamics. I think if I had set less of a distance gap (I have it maxed) it would have been smoother.

Equally I could have let the NASCAR driver behind me stew a little bit longer while I finished passing the second slower car, but I was trying to be "respectful" of the passing lane.

Now I know how the car reacts in that situation. Next time I'll probably cancel BlueCruise and change lanes myself.

 

[RickMachE]

Next time I'll probably cancel BlueCruise and change lanes myself.

I find the BlueCruise lane change "timid". When I come up on a slow moving vehicle, I look and change lanes. BlueCruise is still thinking... It's nice when the left lane is empty, and for pulling back in, when there is no traffic ahead.

 

[ChehRob]

One of the things Ford has got right, that my RAV4 didn't, is how easily you can override anything the ADASs are doing. I hear Tesla doesn't do that as well. I have discovered that the HWY 16 and I-5 in Tacoma are about the only place where things are dicey, and even that can be avoided in the HOV lanes.

 

[Snakebitten]

One of the things Ford has got right, that my RAV4 didn't, is how easily you can override anything the ADASs are doing.

Totally agree.
I've been fortunate to have spent long 12 to 15 hour stints in Bluecruise mode and it really helped vs getting to know the system in short stints collectively. I found myself getting "in the zone" with it.

Lane Changing is wonderful where it's wonderful. But there are visual information/circumstances where I would take control of the throttle portion of the maneuver. Sometimes even the braking and steering input.

I found that if I emphasized traveling smoooooothly, rather than just being an observer of what Bluecruise could or couldn't do and then reacting to its shortcomings, we paired in harmony.

Admittedly these long stints were in more ideal Bluecruise environment. Long stretches of interstate 10 and many hours of medium to light congestion. Also, the F150 rather than the Mach-E, but basically the same software at work.

I love Bluecruise. But I probably don't use in the circumstances that a lot of folks do.

 

[Mach-Lee]

It’s following good driving practice of matching speed before changing lanes. It’s conservative and I think that’s a good thing when automation is involved. It would also be bad if it changed lanes without slowing down and had to brake suddenly to avoid hitting the car in front. There is a radar blind spot when changing lanes, so it’s going to make sure the speed is matched to the car in the lane before that car disappears into the radar blind spot during the maneuver.

 

[MellowJohnny]

It’s following good driving practice of matching speed before changing lanes. It’s conservative and I think that’s a good thing when automation is involved. It would also be bad if it changed lanes without slowing down and had to brake suddenly to avoid hitting the car in front. There is a radar blind spot when changing lanes, so it’s going to make sure the speed is matched to the car in the lane before that car disappears into the radar blind spot during the maneuver.

Exactly - the same thing in reverse happens when someone cuts you off or merges in front of you in close quarters.

BC is "surprised" to see a car seemingly appear out of nowhere, and hits the brakes. A human driver would see / anticipate the other car and begin to slow sooner.

 

[4sallypat]

I used BC 1.2 and 1.3 for past 18 months and have noticed similar behavior (abrupt braking) and the BC lag to change lanes makes it sometimes dangerous.

When I have moderate to heavy traffic like the OP, I turn off BC and drive manually defensively as usual.

When traffic lets up and spacing of cars gets larger, I turn it back on.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I used BC 1.2 and 1.3 for past 18 months and have noticed similar behavior (abrupt braking) and the BC lag to change lanes makes it sometimes dangerous.

When I have moderate to heavy traffic like the OP, I turn off BC and drive manually defensively as usual.

When traffic lets up and spacing of cars gets larger, I turn it back on.

Yeah I don’t use the auto lane changes unless there’s a really big space to move over. In heavy traffic it’s too timid.

 

[Womps]

Yeah I don’t use the auto lane changes unless there’s a really big space to move over. In heavy traffic it’s too timid.

Is there a procedure to disable the lane change feature while using the Blue Cruise or is it always activated while using Blue Cruise?

 

[DYohn]

Sounds to me like the idiot driving "Mach 2" as you put it was the real problem in this scenario.

 

[GreaseMonkey]

The above is why Ford needs to compensate us for beta-testing the system for them. $75/ month seems appropriate. Oh wait, looks like some would do it for $50 or $500 / year.

 

[hartmms]

Is there a procedure to disable the lane change feature while using the Blue Cruise or is it always activated while using Blue Cruise?

I don't think there is. I just grab the steering wheel, turn on the blinker and change the lane manually. It will ding at you, but once you are in the new lane it should resume BC hands free.

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