this post was submitted on 19 Dec 2023
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[–] BassaForte 26 points 1 year ago (5 children)

This would be illegal in my state. Amber and red visible from the rear and white, yellow, and amber visible from the front. Regardless, blue isn't a good color because it's reserved for emergency vehicles. Should have gone with green.

[–] stevehobbes 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

To confuse with traffic lights, brilliant! But seriously, the amount of people that hit the gas when they see green in their periphery is high.

Which state is it?

[–] BassaForte 1 points 1 year ago

Wisconsin, but I think a lot of states have a similar law. But yeah green maybe isn't the best choice either.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

My state, too (Indiana, for reference)

I'd go with Purple/Violet. Not a color light you really see anywhere on roadways so it would stick out easier.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Purple is for rain.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Red-green colourblindness is the most common type, perhaps it's best to use a more distinct colour.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest 2 points 1 year ago

But iT's tUrQuOiSe

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] OhmsLawn 20 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (3 children)

Looks like a different blue, but my understanding is that blue lights are reserved for police.

Edit: it was selected because it's clearly different from the police color.

[–] AtHeartEngineer 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The article and the autoTLDR comment both say they were approved to use turquoise

[–] w2tpmf 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Approved by who though?

It mentions an organization that has no authority over road laws in any US state, or EU, or anywhere else. So what?

[–] AtHeartEngineer 0 points 1 year ago

The article says Nevada and California, I would assume it's those states respective departments of transportation.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest 1 points 1 year ago

iT's tUrQuOiSe

[–] topinambour_rex 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Blue is for priority vehicles, not just police.

[–] stevehobbes 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Depends entirely on the state/jurisdiction in the US.

That is surprisingly not a federal law.

[–] topinambour_rex 1 points 1 year ago

That is surprisingly not a federal law.

I thought it was part of the Vienna convention of 1968. But I just checked and the US aren't a part of it.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

in some cars, amber for turn signals.

optional in BMWs by my experience

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I can be almost sure it won't cut me off when the blue light is on.

[–] GeorgeTheFourth 20 points 1 year ago (1 children)

To stay consistent with expected Mercedes road-behavior care, the self driving mode is programmed to change lanes without signaling.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Sorry, I think you've mistaken this with BMW.

[–] Cort 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)
[–] LemmyKnowsBest 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well since you spelled tomato two different ways, You imply that you realize Mercedes and BMW are indeed two different things. I drive a Mercedes and I use my turn signals.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Their drivers are usually the same in my country.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Mercedes don't let you merge, and don't ever look at you.

BMW drive like they are unaware of any other cars on the road.

Subtle but different

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

This is the best summary I could come up with:


Mercedes-Benz has just received approval to add a fourth color: turquoise blue lights that indicate when a Mercedes car is driving itself.

Mercedes Drive Pilot can be used in traffic jams on selected major highways when vehicles are traveling at less than 40 miles an hour.

In the meantime, drivers can surf the Internet or play games on the car’s big center screen.

It’s not similar to the color of any other lights on a passenger car but it’s also clearly different from the darker blue used by police and other emergency vehicles.

The Society of Automotive Engineers recommends this specific blue shade to signify autonomous vehicle operation but Mercedes is the first automaker to receive approval for its use.

The turquoise lights are needed, according to Mercedes, to alert passing drivers and police that the vehicle is under fully automated control.


The original article contains 406 words, the summary contains 142 words. Saved 65%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think this is cool af. I’m a tad nervous about full “eyes off the road” autonomy, but also excited for what the future holds in terms of transportation, highway safety, etc.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Probably takes over the indicator spot