Mercedes Receives Approval To Use Turquoise-Colored Lights For Self-Driving Cars

More importantly, the marker lights will allow law enforcement to gauge whether the system is in use. Should a police officer roll by an S-Class driver not watching the road, all they have to do is check for the turquoise-colored lights. If the lights are on, the police can assume the vehicle is being controlled autonomously and move on. We’d always recommend keeping your eyes on the road, but it’s worth noting Mercedes has said it will take responsibility for any crashes caused in autonomous mode.

Designed in line with SAE J3134 Recommended Practices, the lights are integrated into the headlights, taillights, and side mirrors. Mercedes chose turquoise as it’s easily identifiable and won’t be confused with existing lighting colors. Furthermore, it’s not associated with emergency vehicles, like darker blue. Interestingly, the automaker says several test studies claim turquoise is the ideal color for automated driving. “Both physiological and psychological factors attest to higher values in almost all areas with turquoise rather than other colors.”