The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has introduced a proposal to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. The initiative aims to establish a standardized turquoise light for autonomous vehicles to signal their operational status to pedestrians, drivers, and law enforcement.
While the installation of these turquoise lights remains optional, manufacturers choosing to adopt them must adhere to strict regulations regarding brightness, quantity, placement, and activation. This standardization is intended to prevent confusion with existing signals like brake lights, turn indicators, and emergency vehicle lights.
The proposal also addresses regulatory hurdles for vehicles lacking manual controls like steering wheels or pedals. It removes requirements for manual turn signal cancellation and driver-operated headlight switching, aiming to modernize safety standards for fully autonomous systems without compromising road safety.
Public feedback on the proposal is invited for a period of 30 days following its official publication in the Federal Register. Mercedes-Benz has previously tested turquoise lights on Level 3 autonomous vehicles in California, and companies like Waymo, Zoox, and Nuro are identified as potential beneficiaries.
