Mercedes-Benz has become the first company in the United States automotive industry to obtain permission to use turquoise lights on the exterior of its cars to indicate the status of autonomous driving.
Mercedes-Benz can now test turquoise lights on its experimental cars in California for two years. In Nevada, the company will have the right to add this feature to its manufactured cars by 2026.
The turquoise lights will activate when the Drive Pilot, an advanced Level 3 autonomous driving system from Mercedes-Benz, is engaged. This system can only be activated in limited situations and geographically specific areas, for example, when there is heavy traffic on highways with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour or less.
Additionally, the use of Drive Pilot is limited to daytime and clear weather conditions, and cannot be used in construction zones. Furthermore, drivers are not allowed to sleep or leave the driver’s seat when the system is active.
The Drive Pilot system, known as a Level 3 autonomous driving system, allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel and feet off the pedals to focus on things other than the road.
While most other autonomous driving systems require the driver to keep their hands on the steering wheel and focus on the road, the “Drive Pilot” system allows users to browse the internet or watch videos on the screen in the center of the car. With the introduction of turquoise lights, the presence of a busy Mercedes driver engaged in activities other than driving will not be a concern for other drivers.
Mercedes-Benz stated that numerous studies have shown that turquoise is the ideal color to represent autonomous driving. They also mentioned that “physiological and psychological factors favor turquoise over other colors in most fields.”
Turquoise color aligns with the globally recommended SAE J3134 guidelines. The company also indicated that EQS Sedan and S-Class models will feature the Drive Pilot system, available in California and Nevada in early 2024.
