Blue Cruise Eyes on Road Annoyance

Recently got a 2026 Expedition, went on our first road trip this weekend so using blue cruise on the highway.

It's great at staying in the lane but it keeps screaming at me to keep my eyes on the road. My eyes are open and Im looking at the road

Is there any trick, besides forcing my eye lids open more.

Hmm I haven't had that problem, instead my bug is with the "BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL!" warnings.

The thing is basically driving itself so why can't I just rest my hand(s) at the bottom of the wheel--very annoying. I don't like cruise control in the first place so this really fries me.

Raid1022 said:

Recently got a 2026 Expedition, went on our first road trip this weekend so using blue cruise on the highway.

It's great at staying in the lane but it keeps screaming at me to keep my eyes on the road. My eyes are open and Im looking at the road

Is there any trick, besides forcing my eye lids open more.

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I've read that a slight adjustment to the height of the steering wheel can resolve that issue. Tilt the steering column a bit more up or down depending on how hight you're sitting in your seat.

Mine does the same thing ! I hate it when it hits the brakes

Can Bluecruise be turned off or disabled?

sidpost said:

Can Bluecruise be turned off or disabled?

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Yeah you can turn it off by turning off lane centering/keep. Then the vehicle just does adaptive cruise control.

csnide29 said:

I've read that a slight adjustment to the height of the steering wheel can resolve that issue. Tilt the steering column a bit more up or down depending on how hight you're sitting in your seat.

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Thanks, I'll try that this week.

I wonder what happens if you wear some sunglasses like these?

tominwi said:

Hmm I haven't had that problem, instead my bug is with the "BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL!" warnings.

The thing is basically driving itself so why can't I just rest my hand(s) at the bottom of the wheel--very annoying. I don't like cruise control in the first place so this really fries me.

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You have two different "modes" of BlueCruise, and which one is on will depend on the road you're on and its conditions. If it is a BlueCruise mapped road, you never need to put you hands on the wheel and it will drive all by itself. If you are on a divided highway, but not one that is BlueCruise mapped, the car will do most of the work, but still requires you to have your hands on the wheel. (And, honestly, the latter is not BlueCruise, it's just normal adaptive cruise control with lane centering.) It can also require hands on if lane conditions are poor or in construction zones.

If you are constantly getting an alert to put your hands on the wheel, you are not in an area or a condition in which BlueCruise is available. It's easy to tell from the appearance of the dash...
1) if the whole dash is blue: BlueCruise is on, no hands required
2) if the dash is normal and the lane lines are just marked in blue, you are not in a BlueCruise area or it is not available for one reason or another.

Your profile says you are "up north"...here is the BlueCruise Map: https://www.ford.com/technology/bluecruise/bluecruise-map/
If you are not driving on one of those highways, BlueCruise is NOT available on that road.

Raid1022 said:

Recently got a 2026 Expedition, went on our first road trip this weekend so using blue cruise on the highway.

It's great at staying in the lane but it keeps screaming at me to keep my eyes on the road. My eyes are open and Im looking at the road

Is there any trick, besides forcing my eye lids open more.

Click to expand...

I agree with the others; this is almost certainly an alignment/angle problem. The little "bump" on the steering column needs to be able to see your face (sunglasses are ok). It's like the stickers on the semis: if you can see my mirrors I can't see you.

That said, it is incredibly possible the sensor in that bump is on the fritz and it's not talking to the system. That happened to my rain-sensing wipers: the sensor had come loose in its housing and couldn't see anything. Possibly worth a visit to make sure it's functioning the way it should. (You could also test it by recording it with your phone and watching the video...there should be two red LED's in there that would show up on video.)

aggiegrad05 said:

You have two different "modes" of BlueCruise...
1) if the whole dash is blue: BlueCruise is on, no hands required
2) if the dash is normal and the lane lines are just marked in blue, you are not in a BlueCruise area or it is not available for one reason or another.
...

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Thanks for explaining; I wonder where I might find an example of "the whole dash is blue" so I know what I'm looking for.

Below is a route I drive most frequently, and I swear the first time I looked at BlueCruise maps the whole thing was blue. Now that I look again it clearly is not, and this likely explains why sometimes "HANDS!!!" appears and sometimes it does not.

I suppose there is a youtube somewhere that shows what a "no hands required" dash should look like.



Never mind I found it. I dunno I have ever seen this:



Anyway I be gonna study this video. Congrats BTW on yr A&M degree!

My confusion continues, because as I look at Ford's website it suggests BlueCruise is NOT AVAILABLE or INSTALLED in my 2024 Timberline trim, and yet I am CERTAIN I have seen this on a drive between Milwaukee & Green Bay that is completely blue on the map (hy 43).

I don't know why Ford would show this to me (early on in ownership) and then pull the rug?

sidpost said:

Can Bluecruise be turned off or disabled?

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Yes, it can be completely disabled with FORScan if you want to get rid of the "keep eyes on the road" message and still be able to use lane centering. Many people have done it after BC expires if they don't plan on renewing the subscription.

Raid1022 said:

Thanks, I'll try that this week.

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I played with the steering column position and it seemed to help. But would still give me the warning time to time. Overall Ford should really give a setup procedure or live feedback when stationary and setting up your profile. Or improve the sensor to not be so finicky.