On March 3, 2024, at 3:16 a.m. local time, a multi-vehicle collision occurred in a work zone on northbound Interstate 95 (I-95) near the Betsy Ross Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The speed limit in the work zone was 45 mph, reduced from 55 mph. Before the crash, two vehicles, a 2012 Hyundai Elantra and a 2006 Toyota Prius, were stationary in the left travel lane, with the Elantra positioned behind (south of) the Prius. A 2018 Toyota Corolla was traveling in the center lane, approaching these stationary vehicles. At the same time, a 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV was traveling north in the left lane of I-95. Traveling at a system-recorded speed of 72.4 mph, the Ford collided with the rear of the stationary Elantra, propelling it forward into the Prius. The impact redirected both the Prius and the Elantra forward and rightward, causing them to strike the passing Corolla.
The Ford driver had been operating the vehicle in hands-free partial driving automation mode. Neither driver-applied nor system-applied braking or steering were recorded before impact. As a result of the crash, the Prius and Elantra drivers died and the Ford driver sustained minor injuries. The Corolla driver was uninjured.
Moments before this collision sequence, a 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan traveling north in the left lane ahead of the Ford had swerved around the stopped Elantra and Prius. Although the Genesis avoided the stopped vehicles, its driver lost control and collided with the roadside longitudinal barriers north of the crash location.
The NTSB held a public board meeting on March 31, 2026, on this and another investigation (HWY24FH006), both involving 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUVs operating in the company’s hands-free, partial automation system, BlueCruise.
Read the Summary from the Board Meeting.
We determined that the probable cause of the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, crash was the driver’s failure to respond to the stationary vehicles ahead due to impairment from alcohol that may have been worsened by cannabis use, as well as distraction, likely from cell phone use, stemming from overreliance on and misuse of the vehicle’s hands-free partial automation system. Contributing to the crash was the driver’s operation of the vehicle about 27 mph over the speed limit in a work zone. Further contributing to the crash was the Ford Motor Company’s inadequate integration of its active speed management system with its partial automation system, which permitted excessive speed, including in a work zone.
As a result of this investigation, we will make the following new safety recommendations:
To the United States Department of Transportation:
- Issue comprehensive guidelines for vehicle manufacturers implementing partial vehicle automation systems that address known system limitations, including:
- integration and concurrent engagement of other safety-critical technologies (such as automatic emergency breaking, active intelligent speed assistance, and driver moniroting system);
- promoting driver engagement by design;
- reducing the safety risks associated with automation complacency and misuse; and
- setting maximum operational speeds for automation systems based on overall system capabilities.
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:
- Require manufacturers to equip new SAE International Level 2-capable passenger vehicles with a telematic system that notifies the manufacturer of crashes meeting your reporting requirements in Standing General Order 2021-01.
- Amend 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 563, “Event Data Recorders,” to require that all new SAE International Level 2-capable passenger vehicles record data elements related to these systems, including at a minimum:
- system availability;
- engagement and activation denial;
- driver alerts, and
- system faults for automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, driver monitoring system, lane departure prevention, lane centering, partial automation system operation, and any other systems deemed necessary.
3. Require that all new SAE International Level 2-capable passenger vehicles be equipped with driver monitoring systems capable of minimizing driver disengagement, automation complacency, and misuse of vehicle automation by, at a minimum:
- providing warnings about accumulated short glances over a prolonged period of time;
- differentiating genuine on-road glances from attention directed to objects, such as cell phones, located in the driver’s forward line of sight; and
- issuing initial and subsequent multi-modal alerts at intervals that minimize eyes-off-road duration.
To the Ford Motor Company:
- Revise the driver monitoring systems (DMS) in your new vehicles to detect and provide warnings about accumulated short distractions over a prolonged period of time; differentiate genuine driver on-road glances from attention directed to objects, such as cell phones, located in the driver’s forward line of sight; and issue initial and subsequent multi-modal alerts at intervals that minimize eyes-off-road duration.
- Modify your BlueCruise system for new vehicles to require that the automatic emergency braking system is engaged and that the Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control system uses appropriate speed tolerances to mitigate excessive speeding, taking into consideration the system’s operational capabilities as well as traffic and highway complexity.
We reiterated the following safety recommendation
To the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: Require that all new vehicles be equipped with passive vehicle-integrated alcohol impairment detection systems, advanced driver monitoring systems, or a combination thereof; the systems must be capable of preventing or limiting vehicle operation if driver impairment by alcohol is detected. (H-22-22)
