Why am I getting a “Watch the road” warning with BlueCruise?

Vehicles equipped with Ford BlueCruise* use a driver-facing camera and infrared lighting to ensure you keep your eyes on the road. BlueCruise is designed to be an aid and does not relieve you of your responsibility to always remain alert.

The driver-facing camera’s location varies by model – it may be on the steering column, instrument panel, or another interior location. To find its exact position, please consult your Owner’s Manual.^** To minimize warnings, BlueCruise must detect your eyes are looking towards the forward road scene. BlueCruise will provide multiple reminders to watch the road, including visual prompts on the Instrument cluster and an audible chime. Eventually, if you fail to respond, the vehicle will begin to slow down, all the way to a stop.

Top 3 Causes of “Watch the Road” Warnings

• Attention Directed to Driver’s Lap: Avoid looking at your phone or down at your lap. BlueCruise monitors head and eye position to help detect if you are distracted.
• Attention Directed to the Center Console or Head’s Up Display: If the Driver State Monitoring System detects you are not looking at the road for a certain period of time, depending on where you are looking, the system alerts you with a message on the instrument cluster display and an audible warning to return your eyes to the road.
• Driver Facing is Unable to Detect You Clearly: Ensure the driving-facing camera has a clear view of your face. You may need to:
  • Remove facial coverings.
  • Adjust the seating position.
  • Lower the steering column.
  • Avoid leaning the seat back.
  • Use sunglasses that are not dark, reflective, or infrared-blocking.
  • Ensure your hands, arms, or other objects do not block the driver-facing camera.

Note: In some cases, the ambient lighting conditions may impact driver-facing camera performance

Additional Information

What is Ford BlueCruise?

^*Available feature on BlueCruise-equipped vehicles. BlueCruise requires a Connected Services plan and modem activation. BlueCruise driver-assist features can be activated in hands-free Blue Zones and do not replace safe driving and driver’s need to control the vehicle. See ford.com/bluecruise for more details on available plans and hands-free models.

** Location of the driver-facing camera for your model can be found in the Owner’s Manual.