NHTSA Proposes Updates to FMVSS 108 to Accommodate ADS Vehicles

NHTSA has released a proposal to amend FMVSS 108, the federal standard governing vehicle lamps and reflective devices. The changes would adjust the test‑voltage requirement for integral‑beam headlamps and drop rules that apply only to vertical headlamp arrangements. For vehicles equipped with automated driving systems that lack manually operated driving controls, the proposal would exempt them from several existing mandates, including those for manually operated turn‑signal, hazard‑warning, and beam‑switching controls. It would also narrow telltale requirements to vehicles with manual controls and introduce the term “telltale” throughout the standard. Finally, the proposal would permit cyan‑colored ADS marker lamps as optional lighting equipment in ADS‑equipped vehicles. The agency says the updates remove unnecessary burdens while preserving safety.