NHTSA proposes autonomous-vehicle lighting standards and control changes

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has proposed equipment rules for autonomous vehicles that would specify exterior signalling lights and remove requirements for manually operated turn-signal, high-beam and hazard-light controls, TechCrunch reported. The proposal suggests steadily illuminated cyan lights visible from the front, rear and both sides when a vehicle operates autonomously without a human occupant monitoring the road. It does not mandate blue-green lights. The changes form part of the agency's effort to update vehicle safety standards for automated vehicles, including designs that lack conventional equipment such as steering wheels and pedals.