Federal Proposal Would Standardize Cyan Lights on Robotaxis
Regulators are proposing a federal rule that would standardize the color, brightness, and placement of indicator lights used to signal when a vehicle is being operated by an automated driving system.
By Marcus Johnson ·
The federal government is moving to standardize the visual signal that a vehicle is operating itself.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed changes to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108 to specifically address autonomous vehicles. The proposal includes two main components: establishing a national standard for blue-green marker lamps that indicate when an automated driving system is in use, and removing certain equipment requirements that do not apply to vehicles without a human driver. The blue-green lights would be optional for manufacturers, but if they are installed, the rule would standardize their color, brightness, and location. The agency is also considering removing requirements that dictate whether high-beam lights are positioned above or below low-beam lights.
The proposal would remove requirements for physical hazard switches, manual beam shifters, and turn levers. It would also update a 12.8-volt testing standard to accommodate modern LED lighting systems. This change is part of a broader effort by the Department of Transportation to make it easier to deploy autonomous vehicles.
The agency stated that the lights are intended "to clearly and consistently signal to law enforcement and other road users when an automated driving system is operating the vehicle." The color blue-green was selected because red, amber, white, and blue/red flashing lights are already used for other functions such as brakes, turn signals, headlights, and emergency vehicles. The proposal would set a national standard that could be adopted by robotaxi operators like Waymo, Nuro, and Zoox, as well as automakers like GM and Mercedes.
There is precedent for the use of this color. Mercedes-Benz had received state-level approval for turquoise lights on its Level 3 Drive Pilot cars, but the company has since discontinued that feature in favor of a Level 2++ system.
Regulators are also still enforcing existing safety standards. In September 2026, NHTSA opened an audit query into the Tesla Cybercab to examine the process and technical data used to certify the vehicle. The query involves the absence of features like sideview mirrors, pedals, and a steering wheel, which are currently required under FMVSS.
Source: The Verge
