US regulator proposes cyan lights to mark self-driving cars in autonomous mode

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has put forward new lighting requirements for autonomous vehicles, including an option for cyan, or blue-green, lights showing when a car is driving itself with no human occupant watching the road, according to the weekly mobility newsletter from TechCrunch.

What the proposal covers

The agency is not making the blue-green lights mandatory. Its proposal does, however, set equipment specifications for such lights, covering their mounting position, the color they emit and how they are switched on. The suggested design is a steady light rather than a flashing one, visible from the front, the rear and both sides of the vehicle, and active only while the vehicle is in autonomous mode.

The same proposal would drop requirements for manual controls for turn signals, high beams and hazard lights. That reflects a wider problem for regulators: existing federal motor vehicle safety standards were written for cars with steering wheels, pedals and mirrors, features that some robotaxi designs leave out.

NHTSA administrator Jonathan Morrison described the move as part of a broader effort to update rules so that autonomous vehicles can be adopted faster while safety is maintained. The agency is also working on a federal framework for automated vehicles.

Software takes a larger role

The newsletter also points to how much of the industry's work now centers on computing. GM plans to overhaul the electrical and computing architecture of future vehicles to deliver faster software, stronger automated driving features and a conversational AI assistant that will change its OnStar service, starting in 2028. Rivian has bought Third Dimension, a UK startup that uses AI to turn images and video into realistic 3D worlds for driving simulation; the terms were not disclosed.

What it means for technology readers

For people following computing and the internet, the proposal is a sign that self-driving software is becoming something regulators expect the public to see and recognize on the street. As vehicles depend more on AI models, simulation tools and onboard computers, rules on hardware, signaling and controls are likely to keep shifting, and software developers in the automotive field may need to track those changes closely.