The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a draft proposal to standardize the use of cyan-colored lights on autonomous vehicles. These lights are intended to signal when a car is operating in self-driving mode, helping emergency responders and the public identify driverless operation.
The proposal suggests that these lights should be visible from all angles, with markers placed on the front, sides, and rear of the vehicle at least 15 inches above the ground. The lights must activate only when the vehicle is in autonomous mode and deactivate when a human is driving.
While the regulation would make the inclusion of these lights optional for automakers, it aligns with similar standards recently proposed in China, which plans to implement a turquoise light requirement by 2028. The NHTSA initiative follows a proposal originally introduced by Mercedes-Benz.
Beyond lighting, the draft regulation updates Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) to accommodate autonomous vehicle design. This includes removing requirements for features like steering-wheel-linked turn signals that are not applicable to vehicles lacking traditional controls.
The proposal is open for public comment for 30 days under docket number NHTSA-2026-1519 at the official government regulations website.
