The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a rule to allow autonomous vehicles to use steady cyan lights to indicate when an automated system is in control. This update to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 aims to accommodate vehicles designed without steering wheels or pedals, such as the Tesla Cybercab. The use of these marker lamps remains optional for manufacturers.
The proposal defines strict requirements for the implementation of these lights. If adopted, vehicles may feature between four and eight lamps mounted at specific positions on the front, sides, and rear. The lights must remain steady rather than flashing and must activate only when the vehicle does not require human monitoring. Each lamp must be positioned at least 15 inches above the ground.
The initiative draws on testing conducted by Mercedes-Benz in California and Nevada between 2023 and 2025 using turquoise lights. NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrisson stated that the move aims to reduce regulatory burdens for vehicles lacking manual controls. The agency is also considering dropping the 12.8-volt test requirement for integrated headlamps to better support modern LED systems.
The public comment period for the proposal will remain open for 30 days following its publication in the Federal Register. While the agency sets these standards, it does not mandate the installation of the lights, allowing manufacturers to choose whether to adopt them. China is also currently evaluating similar identification methods for advanced driving systems.
