Autonomous Vehicle Standards: Federal Regulators Push for Cyan Lighting
The NHTSA has proposed a new rule requiring driverless cars to use a distinct blue-green light to indicate automated operation, streamlining safety standards for future fleets.
By Layla Petrov ·
Federal regulators have moved to standardize the visual language of self-driving cars by proposing a specific color for automated vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has released proposed changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. The primary goal of this update is to establish a clear and consistent way for driverless cars to communicate their status to other road users. The agency specifically suggests the use of cyan-colored marker lamps. These lights would signal to law enforcement and other drivers that an automated driving system is currently in control of the vehicle.
The selection of cyan is driven by the need to avoid visual confusion on the road. Current automotive lighting already utilizes red, amber, white, and flashing blue or red lights for functions such as braking, turn signals, and emergency alerts. By introducing a blue-green hue, the NHTSA aims to fill a visual gap that existing colors do not cover. This approach allows robotaxis to be easily distinguished from standard human-driven vehicles and emergency services without creating a cluttered or misleading visual environment for everyone on the road.
This proposal builds on existing industry experiments while aiming for a uniform national standard. Mercedes-Benz previously received state-level approval for turquoise lights on its Level 3 Drive Pilot vehicles, although the company later shifted to a Level 2++ system. By formalizing these standards, the NHTSA hopes to provide a consistent framework for major players in the sector. Companies such as Waymo, Nuro, and Zoox, along with automakers like GM and Mercedes, would be able to adopt these rules uniformly. While the cyan lights would remain optional for manufacturers, the federal guidelines would dictate the specific color, brightness, and location of the lamps to ensure consistency across the industry.
The regulatory package also includes significant simplifications for vehicle design. The NHTSA proposes removing requirements for physical controls that are unnecessary in driverless configurations, such as manual beam shifters, hazard switches, and turn levers. Additionally, the agency is updating the 12.8-volt testing standard to accommodate modern LED architectures. This move is part of a broader Department of Transportation initiative to streamline the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The government seeks to make it easier for manufacturers to build cars that lack traditional human-operated controls like steering wheels and pedals.
Despite these efforts to modernize regulations, enforcement of current rules remains strict. Last month, the NHTSA opened an audit query into the Tesla Cybercab. The investigation focuses on the technical data and processes Tesla used to certify the vehicle. The review highlights a potential conflict between emerging autonomous designs and existing safety standards, specifically regarding the absence of sideview mirrors, pedals, and a steering wheel, which are currently required under FMVSS. This situation underscores the ongoing tension between accelerating innovation and maintaining rigorous safety protocols in the automotive sector.
