Lighting standards: NHTSA proposes cyan markers for driverless cars

Federal regulators have proposed a blue-green light to identify driverless vehicles on the road. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) released amendments to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 on October 23. The rule targets autonomous vehicles and seeks to standardize how they communicate with other road users.

The industry has debated how to signal the absence of a human driver for years. NHTSA chose cyan because existing traffic lights use red, amber, white, and flashing blue. The agency stated that the marker lamps would clearly signal to law enforcement and other drivers when an automated system is operating. This approach aims to fill a visual gap without causing confusion.

Mercedes-Benz previously received state-level approval for turquoise lights on its Level 3 Drive Pilot vehicles. The automaker later shifted to a Level 2++ system. NHTSA now seeks a national standard that companies like Waymo, Nuro, Zoox, GM, and Mercedes could adopt. The proposal would make the lights optional for manufacturers. However, those who choose to install them must follow federal requirements for color, brightness, and placement.

The draft also removes lighting requirements designed for human drivers. Current rules mandate physical hazard switches, manual beam shifters, and turn levers inside the vehicle. NHTSA proposes to scrap these mandates for autonomous fleets. The agency also plans to update the 12.8-volt testing standard to accommodate modern LED systems. It is considering dropping rules regarding the vertical placement of high-beam and low-beam lights.

These changes align with a Department of Transportation push to accelerate the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The government aims to simplify the construction of cars without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals. Regulators are still enforcing existing rules as written. Last month, NHTSA opened an audit query into the Tesla Cybercab. The review examines the technical data Tesla used to certify the vehicle, specifically regarding missing sideview mirrors, pedals, and a steering wheel.