NHTSA proposes cyan lights for robotaxis — SkimNews
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- NHTSA proposed adding cyan-colored exterior lights to autonomous vehicles to signal when they are operating without a driver, as part of a draft regulation updating federal safety standards.
- Mercedes first introduced the cyan light concept with its DRIVE PILOT level 3 system, which allows hands-free driving under certain conditions and was tested in California for two years.
- China announced a nearly identical draft standard requiring turquoise lights on autonomous vehicles, set to take effect in 2028, urging automakers to stop using custom lighting schemes.
- NHTSA's proposal makes cyan lights optional and does not mandate their use, though it specifies they must activate only during autonomous operation and be visible from all angles.
- Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards are being updated to remove requirements irrelevant to driverless cars, such as automatic turn signals tied to steering wheel movement.
Why it matters: Standardizing visual cues like cyan lights helps emergency responders and other road users distinguish driverless vehicles, reducing confusion and risk. With both the U.S. and China moving toward similar rules, automakers may adopt the feature widely even if optional, shaping global design norms for autonomy.
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