Mercedes Benz adds new light to show when car is on autopilot

Mercedes Benz is trialling a new exterior light on their models over the pond in America land according to a CNN report. 

The German Automaker has received approval to use turquoise coloured indicators in its front and rear clusters and a repeater on the wing mirrors. The new move is billed as an experiment to try and figure out the place for self-driving cars on the roads of the future.

Mercedes calls its autonomous driving mode “Drive-Pilot” which to date is the most advanced auto-pilot coming out of any car manufacturer and the first to be certified as SAE Level 3. 

For comparison, the much-vaunted Tesla Self-drive system is only at SAE 2 stage which means that the driver must keep his hands on the wheel.

SAE Level 3 is the first one that will allow drivers to legally doze off or do other things whilst the drive is engaged—although for now, they will still have to be sitting behind the steering wheel and remain alert. 

That said, I have read a report in Business Insider that details how Telsa-ites are finding ways around this such as tying weights to the steering wheel to trick the system.

It would also seem that Mercedes is navigating through the US red tape better than Tesla and GM, both of whom are under intense scrutiny with their autonomous offerings.

Thus far, the turquoise self-driving indicators are only street legal in California and Nevada, and for now, it is a limited time test designated to run until 2024 according to Car and Driver.

The cars that will sport the new lights will be limited to just two models as well: the EQS and the S-Class.

Why Turquoise?, well chiefly it is so that we do not confuse them with other things like Police Cars or turn signals.

But why do we need them at all? Well, Mercedes says that it will help anyone passing by to not be alarmed if they see a driver seemingly not paying attention on the road.

Of course, they are also a cool way to let everyone else know that you have sprung for the self-drive option.

I for one will take a wide line around any car that is on auto-pilot for the foreseeable future because I am a luddite.