Based on reporting by The Verge.
What happened
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is proposing that manufacturers be allowed to install cyan‑colored marker lamps on vehicles to indicate when an automated driving system is in control.
The agency says the new marker lights would be optional rather than mandatory for manufacturers.
NHTSA is also proposing to eliminate existing lighting requirements such as physical hazard switches, manual beam shifters, and turn‑lever controls that are not needed for vehicles that operate without a driver.
AIBeat analysis
If manufacturers adopt the optional cyan markers, drivers and pedestrians could more easily recognize when a vehicle is operating autonomously, which could improve situational awareness and reduce confusion in mixed traffic. The removal of unnecessary lighting controls could simplify vehicle design and lower production costs, but it also raises questions about how safety functions will be verified in the absence of traditional controls.