NHTSA Proposes Cyan Lighting Standards for Autonomous Vehicles
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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to modernize Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, addressing vehicles operated exclusively by Automated Driving Systems.
The proposal establishes standardized performance criteria for optional cyan exterior marker lights. Under the framework, blue-green lamps positioned on the front, sides, and rear of automated vehicles would visually signal to law enforcement and surrounding traffic that the vehicle is operating via machine vision rather than human control.
For motorcyclists sharing highways with robotaxis and driverless commercial carriers, the distinctive cyan lighting provides immediate notice of whether an adjacent vehicle is being piloted by an automated system or a human driver.
In addition to exterior indicator lamps, the proposed rule alters interior equipment mandates for fully autonomous platforms. Vehicles manufactured without conventional controls like steering wheels and pedals will no longer require manual turn signal switches, hand- or foot-operated beam-switching hardware, or dashboard telltales under FMVSS 108.
NHTSA published the regulatory update in the Federal Register under Docket Number NHTSA-2026-1519, establishing a 30-day public comment window for road users and industry representatives.
