The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, April 1, edition that the systems that allow drivers to take their hands off the wheel are convenient but do not improve safety, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Tuesday. An Associated Press dispatch to The Globe reports that at a hearing on two fatal crashes involving Ford's Blue Cruise system, the NTSB recommended improvements in driver monitoring and called for minimum safety standards. "These systems function primarily as convenience features rather than safety enhancements," NTSB chairman Jennifer Homendy said. In 2024, crashes in Texas and Pennsylvania involving Ford Mustang Mach-E SUVs resulted in three fatalities when the vehicles struck stopped cars. Both drivers were distracted in ways not detected by the system: the Texas driver glanced at the road while looking for a charging station, and the Pennsylvania driver seemed focused on her phone atop the steering wheel. Ms. Homendy said automakers promote these systems as safety enhancements, enabling drivers to take their hands off the wheel. She referenced a Ford ad showing a mother pretending to conduct a symphony with her eyes closed while interacting with her kids in the backseat.