The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has proposed changes to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, which governs vehicle lamps and reflective devices. The updates focus on accommodating vehicles equipped with automated driving systems (ADS), especially those without manually operated driving controls.

These changes aim to remove outdated requirements and offer manufacturers more design flexibility without compromising safety. For drivers and buyers, this could mean new lighting features tailored for self-driving cars, potentially improving vehicle communication and safety on the road.

What the proposed changes include

  • Adjusting the test voltage requirements for integral beam headlamps to better fit modern designs.
  • Removing restrictions on vertical headlamp arrangements to allow more flexible mounting options.
  • Limiting certain turn signal, hazard warning, and beam switching control requirements to vehicles with manual driving controls, recognizing that ADS-equipped vehicles may not need these controls.
  • Narrowing telltale (indicator light) requirements to vehicles with manual controls and standardizing the use of the term 'telltale' throughout the regulations.
  • Introducing optional cyan-colored ADS marker lamps specifically for vehicles equipped with automated driving systems.

Why these changes matter

As automated driving technology advances, traditional vehicle controls and lighting systems may no longer be necessary or effective in ADS-equipped vehicles. By updating FMVSS No. 108, NHTSA is reducing regulatory burdens that do not contribute to safety in self-driving cars, while allowing new lighting features that can help other road users recognize automated vehicles.

For consumers, this means future vehicles with automated driving capabilities might have distinct lighting designs, including new marker lamps in cyan color, improving visibility and signaling on the road.

What it means for you

  • If you buy an ADS-equipped vehicle without manual controls, some traditional lighting controls like turn signals may be designed differently or omitted.
  • Look for new cyan-colored marker lamps on automated vehicles as a visual cue of their self-driving capabilities.
  • These changes aim to maintain or improve safety while allowing vehicle designs to evolve with automation technology.
  • Manufacturers will have more flexibility in lamp design, possibly leading to innovative lighting features in future vehicles.

The public can submit comments on the proposed rule until November 25, 2026, through the federal regulations portal at regulations.gov under docket number NHTSA-2026-1519.