Mercedes-Benz has become the first carmaker in the world permitted to utilise special turquoise exterior lights to indicate L3 automated driving in California and Nevada. Designed per SAE J3134 Recommended Practice, the automated driving marker lights are integrated into the front and rear lights, as well as two side view mirrors of the Mercedes-Benz testing vehicle.
Mercedes-Benz is utilising the turquoise marker lights in hopes of substantially enhancing public acceptance of automated driving and contributing to road safety, as the lights make the automated driving system’s status visible from the exterior.
The new marker lights will also help allow traffic law enforcement and police officers to identify the system’s status and determine whether drivers are permitted to engage in secondary activities during the conditionally automated journey. For context, the new “BMW Personal Pilot 3” Level 3 autonomous driving system for the new BMW 7 Series allows the driver to focus on “secondary in-vehicle activities” such as editing emails and streaming online videos.
Mercedes-Benz has chosen turquoise as the colour for the automated driving marker lights as it fulfils two essential criteria. The turquoise light’s visibility can not only be detected by other road users quickly and reliably, but also offers differentiation from existing vehicle lighting and traffic signals such as traffic lights or emergency lighting. As a result, this can help reduce the possibility of confusion with already existing lighting colours.
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In addition, turquoise is also deemed the optimal colour for automated driving based on the findings of numerous test studies. It has also been discovered that both physiological and psychological factors attest to higher values in turquoise in almost all areas than was the case with other colours.
The automated driving marker lights will initially be integrated into testing vehicles in California equipped with the brand’s Drive Pilot Level 3 autonomous driving system, such as the brand’s flagship S-Class and EQS electric sedan. The California exemption permit for testing vehicles is initially limited to just two years. The Nevada permit on the other hand applies to Mercedes-Benz Model Year 2026 production vehicles and will remain valid until a statutory modification is achieved with the state legislature.
Aside from Mercedes-Benz cars equipped with Drive Pilot in California and Nevada, there is currently no way to determine whether a moving car has its autonomous driving system turned on. Should features like Mercedes-Benz’s turquoise marker lights be made mandatory? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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