The National Transportation Safety Board has concluded its investigation into two fatal 2024 crashes involving Ford Mustang Mach-E models operating in semi-autonomous driving modes, and the organization recommended significant oversight into future use of SAE Level 2 autonomous driving systems during a public board meeting on Tuesday. Both accidents involved in the investigation involved Mach-Es traveling at highway speeds while using Ford's semi-autonomous BlueCruise system before striking stationary objects, resulting in fatal injuries for other drivers involved in San Antonio, Texas and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The safety investigation arm cited ineffective driver monitoring systems, driver inattention, speeding, and contradictory advanced driver assistance system use as factors in the deadly crashes. However, NTSB officials also took the opportunity to express broader concerns about semi-autonomous driving systems. "This investigation highlights the urgent need for stronger safety standards and better oversight of automated driving systems,” NTSB chairwoman Jennifer Homendy said at the March 31 public hearing. “Manufacturers and federal regulators must ensure these technologies are designed, monitored and implemented in ways that keep all our road users safe. We cannot take a ‘hands off’ approach to hands-free driving technology. Lives depend on it." Currently, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation do not heavily regulate SAE Level 2 semi-autonomous driving systems. Similarly, there is no federal requirement for vehicles using L2 semi-autonomous setups to record data during crashes. This means most automakers can't comply with the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s standing general order to provide certain data following crashes involving L2-operating vehicles, which leaves federal safety regulators and investigators to pick up the pieces themselves after a crash. "And [NHTSA's] primary focus has been on higher levels of automation. So, robotaxis and higher levels. While the issue with partial automation or Level Two systems has not received anywhere near