NHTSA Moves to Standardize Cyan Lights for Autonomous Vehicles

For drivers sharing the road with vehicles operating without a person at the wheel, the Federal Government is moving to create a consistent visual signal to identify them. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed a specific shade of blue-green light to clearly signal that an automated driving system is in control of the vehicle. This proposal would create a uniform national standard for how driverless cars communicate their status to law enforcement and other road users.

The agency has released proposed amendments to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, which regulates vehicle lighting. The proposed rule would establish a national standard for the color, brightness, and location of cyan-colored marker lamps. The agency is proposing cyan as a new color to signal automated driving systems are in operation, a color that is not currently used for other vehicle functions such as brakes, headlights, or emergency signals.

The proposal would establish a national standard for the color, brightness, and location of cyan marker lamps. While the use of these lights would be optional for manufacturers, the agency's goal is to prevent a confusing mix of different colors and signals from being used for the same purpose. The agency wants to ensure that any automaker who chooses to add such lights uses a consistent and legally compliant setup.

The proposed rule also includes changes to remove requirements that are not applicable to vehicles without human drivers. The agency is proposing to remove requirements for physical hazard switches, manual beam shifters, and turn levers inside vehicles. The agency is also updating the 12.8-volt testing standard to accommodate modern LED architectures. The agency is also considering removing requirements that dictate the placement of high-beam and low-beam lights.

This proposal is part of a broader effort by the Department of Transportation to streamline the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The government wants to make it easier for automakers to build vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels and pedals, which are intended for human drivers. The proposed rule is intended to help facilitate the development of such vehicles by removing outdated requirements.

While the agency is proposing these changes, it is also still enforcing current regulations. Last month, NHTSA opened an audit query into the Tesla Cybercab to examine the process and technical data on which Tesla relied when certifying the Cybercab and related issues. The audit is focused on the absence of certain design features such as sideview mirrors, pedals, and a steering wheel, which are required under current federal standards.

The proposed rule would establish a national standard for the color, brightness, and location of cyan marker lamps. While the use of these lights would be optional for manufacturers, the agency's goal is to prevent a confusing mix of different colors and signals from being used for the same purpose. The agency wants to ensure that any automaker who chooses to add such lights uses a consistent and legally compliant setup.