The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has put forward a fresh proposal to amend Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108. This amendment introduces a standardized teal external indicator light for autonomous vehicles (AVs). While the installation of this indicator light is optional, automakers who opt to include it must comply with uniform standards concerning its color, brightness, and other specifications. The choice of teal is deliberate, as it steers clear of the colors commonly used by existing vehicles, thereby minimizing the potential for confusion or misinterpretation.

Moreover, the proposal also does away with certain design requirements that are tailored to human-driven vehicles, specifically for AVs that lack steering wheels, pedals, and other manual controls. This move is aimed at alleviating outdated regulatory hurdles that such vehicles encounter, all the while upholding stringent road safety standards. In the past, several automakers and relevant operators have carried out tests, and they stand to gain from the implementation of these indicator lights.