The proposal would also eliminate certain manual lighting control requirements for vehicles designed to operate without human drivers.
The proposed lamps would emit a cyan, or blue-green, light intended to distinguish autonomous operation from conventional vehicle lighting.
The proposal addresses another challenge for autonomous vehicle manufacturers: lighting requirements originally developed around vehicles equipped with steering wheels, pedals and human-operated controls.
Beyond autonomous vehicles, the proposal includes changes to headlamp testing and vehicle design requirements.
NHTSA has not quantified the potential financial or safety benefits of the changes, citing uncertainty surrounding the developing autonomous vehicle market.