In order to better convey information to other traffic participants, Mercedes-Benz will use turquoise daytime running lights in the United States to mark the activation status of its autonomous driving functions. , its autonomous driving system has previously been approved for use in California and Nevada.
Mercedes-Benz’s autonomous driving system called Drive Pilot is based on lidar technology and can drive autonomously at a top speed of 64 kilometers per hour. It supports Mercedes-Benz S-Class and EQS models. The system not only keeps the vehicle within its lane, but also actively maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead, recognizes traffic signals and road signs, and even performs avoidance maneuvers independently.
According to guidelines from SAE International, an international engineering standards organization, Drive Pilot meets Level 1 standards for autonomous driving, which requires no driver involvement during driving. Therefore, the driver can take their hands off the steering wheel after turning on the system and perform some “secondary activities” on the in-car infotainment system, such as checking emails or shopping online.
It is important to note that drivers must always be prepared to take over the vehicle in situations such as bad weather. If the driver does not take over the vehicle after the system issues an emergency prompt or the timer expires, the system will automatically execute emergency procedures, park the vehicle, turn on the hazard warning lights and unlock the doors.
The turquoise daytime running lights are an industry first and are designed to clearly indicate to other road users that the Drive Pilot system is operating. Mercedes-Benz said it chose this color because it is more eye-catching and clearly distinguishes it from the colors of traditional traffic lights and vehicle lights.
According to Mercedes-Benz, the system can also help police more easily identify whether a vehicle is on autonomous driving and whether the driver should be performing “secondary activities.”
California has now approved a two-year test of the light, and Nevada will officially approve it for production vehicles in 2026.
The classification of autonomous driving levels:
SAE International divides autonomous driving into six levels, from Level 0 to Level 5.
Levels 0 to 2 require the driver to remain active at all times, with both hands on the wheel and focus on the road. This level includes some limited features such as automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning or lane departure warning.
Level 1 includes systems that can provide steering, acceleration or braking support, such as lane centering assist or cruise control, but only one system can be activated at a time.
A Level 2 system can have one or more Level 1 features active simultaneously.
Level 3 is the first level considered autonomous and allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel. Such systems can only drive the vehicle under certain conditions and will not operate until all conditions are met. For example, Mercedes-Benz's Drive Pilot system can only operate at a maximum speed of 64 kilometers per hour, during the day, in clear weather, and on scheduled motorways. The driver must also be ready to take over the vehicle at any time, such as when it starts to rain or when approaching a construction area.
Level 4 allows the driver to be completely hands-off and the vehicle can be without a steering wheel and pedals, but is still subject to the same environmental conditions as a Level 3 system.
Level 5 is the ultimate level of autonomous driving, and vehicles can drive autonomously anywhere under any conditions.