Federal draft sets rules for driverless car lights

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a specific blue-green light to identify vehicles operating without a human driver. The agency released amendments to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 on October 23, 2026. This rule change would allow manufacturers to install cyan marker lamps to signal when an automated driving system is active. The goal is to give law enforcement and other road users a consistent visual cue that no person is at the wheel.

The industry has debated how to communicate vehicle status for years. NHTSA selected cyan because existing traffic lights use red, amber, white, and flashing blue or red for other functions. The agency stated that the new color would clearly and consistently signal automated operation without causing confusion. Mercedes-Benz previously received state approval for turquoise lights on Level 3 vehicles, but it later abandoned that approach for a Level 2++ system.

The proposal makes the cyan lights optional for manufacturers. However, it establishes federal requirements for the color, brightness, and placement of those lights. NHTSA intends to prevent a patchwork of different signals by ensuring any company that adopts the feature uses a standardized configuration. Companies such as Waymo, Nuro, and Zoox could all adopt the same visual standard under this framework.

The draft rule also removes lighting requirements that apply to human drivers. Current regulations mandate physical hazard switches, manual beam shifters, and turn levers inside the vehicle. NHTSA proposes to eliminate these controls for autonomous designs. The agency also plans to update the 12.8-volt testing standard to accommodate modern LED systems. It is considering dropping rules that dictate whether high-beam lights must sit above or below low-beam lights.

These changes align with a Department of Transportation push to accelerate autonomous vehicle deployment. The government aims to simplify the process for building cars without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals. The proposal is part of a broader effort to reduce regulatory burdens for vehicles designed for automated operation.

Existing rules remain in force while the proposal is under review. NHTSA recently opened an audit query into the Tesla Cybercab to examine the technical data used for its certification. The agency is looking at the absence of sideview mirrors, pedals, and a steering wheel, which are required under current federal standards. The draft rule seeks to resolve these gaps by updating the regulatory framework for driverless fleets.