Explained: How does ABS work & why is government mandating it on two-wheelers
Anti-lock brakes is a safety feature that ensures the wheels do not lock up during braking. This is particularly effective in emergencies and on slippery surfaces. The ABS unit is connected to the front brake mechanism (and rear brakes on higher displacement models) and uses sensors to monitor the wheel speed.
(Also read: Government mandates ABS on all new two-wheelers from April 1, 2026) Entry-level two-wheelers are currently equipped with combi-braking system as standard, which will soon be upgraded to anti-lock brakes
The sensors then use the ECU to control the brake pressure by applying the brakes in spurts. As a result, the wheels do not lock up, preventing the vehicle from skidding. This allows for more controlled braking and a shorter stopping distance.
Anti-lock brakes are a crucial safety feature helping improve overall vehicle stability and control, and has been a major contributor towards improving road safety on two-wheelers as well as cars. Better Safety With ABS
The addition of ABS to all two-wheelers will be a major contributor towards improving road safety in India. So far, two-wheelers under 125 cc get the Combi-Braking System (CBS) as standard, which applies both the front and rear brakes to ensure better balance. However, the new mandate will require all new two-wheelers to feature ABS as a standard fitment, starting from April 1 next year. Meanwhile, existing two-wheelers will be required to have ABS as standard from October 1, 2026. ABS is one of the many safety features seen on higher-capacity motorcycles. More powerful two-wheelers also come with traction control, ride-by-wire, IMU, and more
Select manufacturers have begun offering ABS as an option on their 125 cc motorcycles. At present, the Hero Xtreme 125R is the most accessible motorcycle in India to get anti-lock brakes. Anti-lock brakes were first mandated in India on 125 cc and above bikes with effect from April 1, 2018. Enhanced Road Safety With ABS
Two-wheeler accidents account for about 44 per cent of all road accidents in India. Data suggests that about 45 per cent of the two-wheelers sold are under 125 cc. That said, the addition of ABS will add a fairly significant cost to entry-level two-wheelers. Expect prices to go up by ₹ 5,000-7,000, depending on the model. Nevertheless, it's a step in the right direction and should help reduce two-wheeler-related accidents and fatalities in the country.
If you are currently looking for a two-wheeler and your preferred model comes with ABS, then that's the variant you should go for.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
Can You Show Your Driving Licence On DigiLocker To The Police? All You Need To Know
Developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the app allows bikers and car owners to store and access their driving licenses, registration certificates, and insurance papers right from their smartphones. But the big question is—can you show your digital driving license to the police if you're stopped? The answer is yes. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) issued an advisory in 2018 stating that documents such as driving licenses, registration certificates, and others presented via the DigiLocker or mParivahan apps are legally recognised at par with their physical counterparts under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This means that traffic police and other enforcement authorities are required to accept these digital versions just like original paper documents. The advisory further clarifies that the DigiLocker platform, developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, and the MoRTH's mParivahan mobile app can be used by citizens to access their official documents in electronic form. In line with the Information Technology Act, 2000, these digital records are deemed legally valid and equivalent to original physical documents. Additionally, the advisory notes that the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB) uploads data related to new vehicle insurance policies and renewals to the VAHAN database on a daily basis. This information is reflected on the mParivahan and eChallan apps. If an active insurance policy is visible in the vehicle's digital profile, there is no requirement to carry a physical copy of the insurance certificate. How to Add a Driving Licence on the DigiLocker App? Step 1: Go to the official DigiLocker website at or download the app. Step 2: Sign up using your phone number and create a username and password for the account. Step 3: Once you have created your account, link your Aadhaar Card with your DigiLocker account. Step 4: In the next step, go to the 'Issued Documents' section on the dashboard.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a day ago
- Business Standard
Motor Vehicle Agreegator Guidelines: Empowering drivers, customers alike
The promise of flexibility, independence, and technological ease has attracted millions of drivers to app-based ride-hailing platforms in recent years. However, rising commissions, unclear policies, arbitrary suspensions, and lack of protections turned that promise into frustration for many. These challenges, experienced by over 3 million gig drivers across India, highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive and enforceable regulation. In response, under the visionary leadership of hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance of Nitin Gadkari, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) had earlier released the 'Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020' under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. These offered a regulatory framework empowering state governments to license and oversee aggregators fuelling the growth of the ride-hailing industry. Yet, with growing concerns over safety, fairness, and accountability for both drivers and passengers, MoRTH has now introduced the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025: a major policy update to bring structure, safeguards, and inclusivity to India's digital mobility ecosystem. These guidelines, built on the legal foundations of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 aim to regulate the operations of app-based cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Rapido, and others. More importantly, the guidelines seek to provide balanced benefits to both drivers and passengers, while aligning with constitutional mandates and judicial directives. One of the most notable aspects of the 2025 guidelines is protection of drivers' interests. Until now, drivers associated with aggregator platforms often found themselves in a precarious situation with low earnings, arbitrary off-boarding, lack of insurance, and insufficient legal recourse. The new guidelines seek to address these systemic gaps. The guidelines require aggregators to ensure a minimum guaranteed earning per hour, or day, based on base fares notified by the states. It also mandates that fare settlement between the aggregator and the driver must be done on a daily, weekly, or fortnightly basis, based on mutual agreement. This move is expected to eliminate the earnings volatility faced by thousands of drivers, especially during lean periods. In addition, the government now requires every aggregator to provide health insurance of at least ₹5 lakh and term insurance of ₹10 lakh. These protections bring gig workers into the fold of formal labour structures. Further, the new guidelines introduce transparency in commissions, capping the aggregator's share at 20 per cent of each fare in most cases. This ensures drivers retain a fair portion of their earnings. Aggregators must also provide clear and itemised information regarding payment deductions, fare splits, and penalties. The guidelines also require each aggregator to establish a formal grievance redressal system, where issues like ride cancellations, payment disputes, or suspensions can be addressed in a time-bound and transparent manner. Drivers will also receive periodic training including a 40-hour induction programme covering app usage, emergency response, road safety, traffic rules, gender sensitisation, Divyangjan awareness, customer interaction, digital literacy, and more., making them better equipped for future mobility challenges. For passengers, the guidelines are equally transformative. With rising concerns around ride safety, data privacy, and fare manipulation, the new guidelines bring in much-needed safeguards. All drivers on aggregator platforms must undergo mandatory police verification, health check-ups, and behavioural training. Furthermore, every vehicle must be equipped with in-app emergency buttons, GPS-based tracking, and trip-sharing features, all of which enhance the safety of riders, particularly women and children. A 24x7 control room and helpline system must be established by aggregators under state supervision. Another major passenger benefit is the regulation of fares and surge pricing. The guidelines set clear limits: surge fares are capped at 1.5 to 2 times the base fare depending on state policy, ensuring that passengers are not exploited during high-demand periods. In addition, the platforms are required to display fare breakdowns transparently, including base fare, dynamic charges, aggregator share, and government taxes. Crucially, the guidelines also take into account the privacy of users. Aggregators are instructed to store user data on servers located within India and to abide by data protection frameworks, including Digital Personal Data Protection Act, ensuring data is not misused or leaked, and is retained according to India's sovereign data policies. Aligned with PM Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, which emphasises inclusive and sustainable growth, and his unwavering commitment to upholding the honour and self-respect of Divyangjan , the guidelines mandate that a portion of aggregator fleets be made Divyangjan-friendly and an appropriate representation of Divyangjan as drivers in the workforce is to be ensured. The exact number of such vehicles will be determined by individual states based on local needs and requirements. In a major push for sustainability, aggregators are required to transition towards electric mobility, alternate fuel or zero emission vehicles in their fleet. Concerned air regulatory bodies will set state-wise EV targets for ride-hailing platforms, and the same aligns with India's climate and clean air goals. Public transport systems such as Delhi's DEVI buses are already examples of EV integration. The guidelines also align with Directive Principles of State Policy, particularly Article 39, which directs the state to ensure that citizens, including gig workers, have the right to an adequate means of livelihood. Additionally, Article 21 of the Constitution guaranteeing the Right to Life and Personal Liberty has been interpreted by courts to include the right to a safe working environment and the right to mobility with dignity. Several judicial decisions have reinforced the need for proper regulation in the ride-hailing sector. In People's Union for Democratic Rights v. Union of India (1982) and Olga Tellis v. Bombay Municipal Corporation (1985), the Supreme Court emphasised the right to livelihood as an integral component of Article 2. In the case of Uber India Systems Pvt. Ltd. v. Union of India (2020), the Delhi High Court upheld the right of state governments to regulate aggregator pricing and licensing, establishing that consumer interest must prevail over purely market-driven pricing models. These judgments form the legal basis for many of the protections extended to gig workers under the 2025 guidelines which is an attempt to balance the passengers' interest with profitability for motor vehicle aggregators yet prioritising the rights of often-neglected gig workers. On the lines of the Hon'ble PM's approach of 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance', the new guidelines provide a light touch regulatory system. Now the aggregators can take a single license for all types of motor vehicles applicable pan-state within 60 days. It does away with the requirement for ride-hailing companies to have arrangements for a driving test facility. Rather they are now encouraged to take benefit of the Ministry's Scheme for Institutes of Driving Training and Research (IDTR), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTC), and Driving Training Centres (DTC). These centres, funded by the central government, aim to make scientific training accessible even in remote areas with grants up to ₹17.25 crore for IDTRs, ₹5.5 crore for RDTCs, and ₹2.5 crore for DTCs based on population and geography. These institutes are not only equipping individuals with high-quality driving skills, but are also contributing to the creation of a pool of professionally trained drivers across the country. This initiative is expected to contribute significantly to enhancing road safety and reducing the incidence of traffic accidents on Indian roads. The government has set an ambitious target of reducing road accident fatalities by 50 per cent by the year 2030, acknowledging that road accidents currently result in an estimated economic loss of 3 per cent of the national GDP. The issuance of these guidelines reflects India's robust federal structure and constitutional provisions. According to the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, transport falls under this Concurrent List and empowers states to create rules for the licensing and functioning of aggregators. Section 93 of the Act is particularly significant, as it enables the central government to issue such guidelines or licensing frameworks for this purpose. Although issued by the central government, the Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 may be followed by state governments and Union Territories, ensuring local adaptability. States have inter-alia been given the authority to: issue licenses to aggregators; monitor fare structures and surge pricing; enforce driver training and verification; penalise non-compliant platforms, authorise use of non-transport motorcycles for passenger journeys under shared mobility models, set and enforce electric vehicle targets for aggregator fleets. This division of responsibilities reflects India's model of cooperative federalism, where policy formulation is centralised, but implementation is context-sensitive and state-specific. The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 represent a progressive and timely step towards reforming India's digital mobility ecosystem. The success of this initiative will hinge on effective enforcement, public awareness, and platform compliance. If followed by states, it has the potential to transform ride-hailing services into a safer, more accountable, and more inclusive mode of urban transportation, creating a win-win scenario for both drivers and riders across the nation. In a country where informal workers often remain invisible in policymaking, these guidelines mark a pivotal shift. They treat the app-based driver not just as a service provider, but as a worker with rights, dignity, and aspirations. They recognise the passenger not merely as a consumer, but as a citizen entitled to safe, affordable, and transparent services. The Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2025 represent a significant milestone for the digital mobility sector in India. By setting clear standards and responsibilities for aggregators, the guidelines emphasise fair earnings and social security for drivers, improved safety and convenience for passengers, and environmentally sustainable practices. This balanced and inclusive framework not only reinforces the foundation of India's growing gig economy but also aligns seamlessly with PM Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.
News18
6 days ago
- News18
Loose FASTags To Be Blacklisted Immediately: NHAI Cracks Down On ‘Tag-in-Hand' Practice
Last Updated: The announcement from the government was made at a time when the authorities are getting ready for the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. Almost a year after making it mandatory to fix FASTag on the windscreens of the vehicles, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Friday announced that loose FASTag would result in immediate reporting and blacklisting. To ensure timely corrective measures, NHAI has provided a dedicated email ID and has directed the toll collection agencies and concessionaires to immediately report such FASTags. Based on the reports received, NHAI will take immediate action to initiate blacklisting and hotlisting of the reported FASTags. The announcement from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) was made at a time when the authorities are getting ready for the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling. 'To ensure smooth tolling operations and strengthen reporting of 'Loose FASTags', NHAI has further streamlined its policy for the toll collecting agencies and concessionaires to immediately report and blacklist 'loose FASTags', that are also commonly called 'tag-in-hand'," the statement reads. In July 2024, the Ministry announced that the NHAI has issued guidelines to collect double user fee from users entering the toll lane with non-affixed FASTag on front windshield from the inside. The measure was taken to deter National Highway users from deliberately not fixing FASTag on the windscreen of the vehicle. Deliberate non-affixation of FASTag on the windscreen leads to unnecessary delays at the toll plazas causing inconvenience to the fellow National Highway users, the Ministry had said. The Ministry said that FASTags are sometimes deliberately not fixed on the windscreen of the vehicle by the owners. 'Such practices pose operational challenges leading to lane congestion, generation of false chargebacks, misuse in closed loop tolling system, causing overall disruption of the Electronic Toll Collection framework, resulting in unnecessary delays at toll plazas and inconvenience to other National Highway users." With a penetration rate of over 98 percent, FASTag has revolutionised the Electronic Toll Collection system in the country. Loose FASTags or 'tag-in-hand" pose a challenge to the efficiency of Electronic Toll Collection operations. This initiative will help to make toll operations more efficient, ensuring seamless & comfortable journeys for the National Highway users. In a move to ease toll payments for private car owners, from August 15 the MoRTH will roll out an Annual FASTag Pass priced at Rs 3,000. It will offer up to 200 trips on national highways in a year and will be valid for one year or 200 trips, whichever comes first. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
