NHTSA Proposes Lighting Rule Updates for Driverless Vehicles, Including Cyan Marker Lamps
The U.S. Department of Transportation's NHTSA wants to rewrite lighting rules for vehicles built to be driven only by automated systems, adding standardized cyan marker lamps.
- 12.8 volts
- 30 days
- FMVSS No. 108
- 2017
What Happened
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced a proposal to modernize lighting equipment requirements for vehicles designed to be driven exclusively by automated driving systems, and to standardize performance criteria for identifying marker lamps on those vehicles. The agency frames the move as part of an effort to safely unleash American innovation and rethink whether certain equipment requirements should apply to vehicles designed never to be driven by a human being. The changes target Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. NHTSA is proposing these revisions separately from the negotiated rulemaking process announced earlier this month, which the agency expects will address other elements of FMVSS 108.
- ADS-equipped vehicle flexibility: modernizes manual turn signal, hazard warning, and beam-switching control requirements for vehicles operated only by an automated driving system.
- Standardized ADS marker lamps: sets equipment specifications for optional marker lamps, including cyan color, mounting locations, activation, and visibility, so they clearly and consistently signal to law enforcement and other road users when an automated driving system is operating the vehicle.
- Headlamp testing modernization: replaces the rigid 12.8-volt test requirement for integral beam headlamps, letting manufacturers certify performance at design voltages tailored to long-lasting LED and advanced lighting systems.
- Design flexibility for vertical headlamps: removes outdated requirements dictating the vertical ordering of lower and upper headlamp beams, giving manufacturers more freedom in front-end design without affecting safety or illumination standards.
“As automotive technology continues to evolve, our safety standards must keep pace with innovation in ways that do not compromise public safety. These proposed updates address unnecessary regulatory burdens for vehicles built without traditional manual controls while establishing clear performance standards for automated vehicle marker lamps. By aligning our regulations with today's technology, we are paving the way for safe innovation and setting clear rules of the road for automated vehicles.”
- Rigid 12.8-volt test requirement in force; manufacturers would instead certify at design voltages suited to LED and advanced lighting systems
- No standardized specification for signaling an automated system is driving; proposal would set cyan color, mounting locations, activation, and visibility criteria
- Manual turn signal, hazard warning, and beam-switching control requirements apply; proposal would modernize them for vehicles operated only by an automated driving system
The agency is opening a 30-day public comment period once the notice is published in the Federal Register. Interested parties and stakeholders can submit comments on Docket No. NHTSA-2026-1519 at www.regulations.gov. NHTSA notes that this lighting proposal is being handled separately from the negotiated rulemaking announced earlier this month, which it anticipates will cover other parts of FMVSS 108.
- FMVSS modernization: proposed updates for transmission shift display (102), windshield defrosting and wiping (103/104), tire placard location (110), and braking system controls (135), with upcoming efforts on controls and displays (101), mirrors and rearview display (111), electronic stability control systems (126), and sun visors and warning labels (201/208).
- Streamlined exemption programs: expanding research and demonstration exemption eligibility to domestic vehicles and allowing vehicles manufactured prior to an exemption to qualify for commercial deployment; NHTSA has granted its first exemption for a commercial robotaxi deployment.
- Objective AV performance standards: developing the first FMVSS for automated driving system safety, in partnership with the SAE Industry Technologies Consortia.
- Updated federal safety guidance: overhauling federal AV guidance for the first time since 2017, focused on first responder interactions, safety management systems, and remote assistance.
Previously from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Earlier in October, NHTSA said it would rewrite Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, the rule governing vehicle lighting, and would use negotiated rulemaking for the first time in more than 25 years to do so. Today's lighting proposal for automated vehicles is being issued separately from that negotiated process, which the agency expects to cover other parts of the same standard.
Background drawn from MotorClaw's earlier coverage of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's official releases.
Why this matters
Lighting rules were written for cars with a human at the wheel, so companies building driverless vehicles face requirements that may not make sense for them. The proposal would give those manufacturers more design freedom, while giving law enforcement and other road users a consistent signal for when an automated driving system is in control. It affects AV developers, lighting suppliers, and anyone sharing the road with driverless vehicles.
Terms in This Story
- FMVSS
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards: U.S. federal rules that set minimum safety performance requirements for vehicles and vehicle equipment.
- Automated driving system (ADS)
- The hardware and software that together perform the driving task without a human operating the vehicle.
- Marker lamps
- Lamps and reflective devices that make a vehicle visible or signal its presence and status to other road users.
- Negotiated rulemaking
- A rulemaking process in which an agency works with affected stakeholders in a committee to draft proposed regulatory language.
Summarised from the linked release; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.