The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has unveiled proposed modifications to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 designed to accommodate autonomous vehicles while establishing uniform communication standards. The most visible change involves requiring cyan-colored marker lamps on robotaxis to indicate to law enforcement and other road users when an automated driving system is actively operating the vehicle.
The agency selected cyan specifically because existing automotive lighting standards already utilize red, amber, white, and flashing blue or red lights for various safety functions including brake indicators, turn signals, headlights, and emergency vehicle markings. The cyan wavelength theoretically fills a visual gap without creating confusion among drivers and pedestrians. NHTSA cited Mercedes-Benz’s turquoise lighting on certain Level 3 autonomous vehicles as partial precedent, though the automaker later discontinued that feature. The proposed standards would apply to manufacturers including Waymo, Nuro, Zoox, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz, establishing consistent specifications for color, brightness, and placement.
Under the proposal, manufacturers would have the option to install cyan marker lights rather than facing a mandatory requirement. By establishing official federal standards, NHTSA aims to prevent a fragmented landscape of different colors and signaling systems that could confuse the public.
The regulatory update also addresses outdated requirements incompatible with driverless vehicles. NHTSA proposes eliminating mandates for physical hazard switches, manual beam shifters, and turn levers designed for human operation. The agency further proposes updating the 12.8-volt electrical testing standard to accommodate modern LED technology architectures, and is considering removing specifications dictating the vertical positioning of high-beam versus low-beam headlights.
The proposal reflects the Department of Transportation’s broader effort to facilitate autonomous vehicle deployment by removing regulatory barriers tied to traditional human-operated vehicle designs. However, enforcement of existing standards remains active, as demonstrated by NHTSA’s recent audit into Tesla’s Cybercab regarding compliance with design feature requirements including sideview mirrors, pedals, and steering wheels.
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