15 hours ago
ABS and dual helmet must for two-wheelers from next year
The ministry of
road transport and highways
has notified draft rules which mandate all
two-wheelers
manufactured on and after January 1, 2026 to be fitted with an
anti-lock braking system
(ABS).
It has also directed all two-wheeler manufacturers to provide buyers with two protective headgears-conforming to specifications prescribed by the Bureau of Indian Standards-at the time of purchase.
The move is aimed at reducing accidents involving motorcycles and scooters. Government data shows nearly 20% of India's 151,997 road accidents in 2022 involved two-wheelers. Besides,
two-wheeler fatalities
rose by 8% in 2022, claiming nearly 75,000 lives, which is 44% of the 1,68,491 road accident deaths that year. This, however, could lead to an increase in the cost of two-wheelers by about ₹2,500, as per initial estimates..
Currently, ABS is mandatory for two-wheeler models above 150cc. ABS is designed to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking, reducing the likelihood of skidding and crashes. They achieve this by rapidly pulsing the brakes, preventing the wheels from skidding and allowing the driver to steer around obstacles.
