New Delhi: in April 2026, all new passenger vehicle models designed to transport more than eight people, as well as buses and trucks, must have Advanced emergency braking systems (AEB), Driver’s Somnolence and Care Systems (DDOWS), and lane output warning systems (LDWS), according to a notification draft issued by the Ministry of Transportation on the road. For existing models, these standards will apply to vehicles manufactured from October 2026 onwards.
The Ministry has proposed integral changes to the central rules of motor vehicles, which makes the introduction of security characteristics and advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). These changes aim to avoid accidents alerting drivers and applying brakes if there is a delay in their response.
In the notification draft issued last week, the Ministry has specified that mini and regular buses, and trucks manufactured after the specified timeline should be equipped with the stability function of the vehicle and AEB. The system will automatically detect a potential progress collision in the same lane and activate the braking system to avoid blockages. AEB, after detecting any potential progress collision, will instantly warn the driver. It will activate the vehicle’s braking system to decelerate the vehicle to avoid or mitigate the severity of a collision, if the driver does not respond quickly to the warning.
The mandatory inclusion of LDW in these vehicles is also crucial, since this security feature warns drivers when their vehicle involuntarily moves away from a lane without signaling. The system provides visual, auditory or haptic feedback to boost corrective action. These characteristics are designed to help prevent clashes caused by driver distraction, fatigue or unintentional drift.
Similarly, the sleepiness alert system in these vehicles will evaluate driver’s alert through vehicle systems analysis and warn the driver if necessary through audio alerts. Somnolence can be detected by monitoring the steering movement pattern, the position of the vehicle in the lanes and when tracking the eyes and face of the driver. Drowsiness is much more fatal when vehicles move at high speeds, since drivers rarely have enough time to react and apply brakes.
The host of changes in the MV rules also includes the mandatory installation of a blind spot information system on buses and trucks. This system will detect and alert the driver about the presence of pedestrians and cyclists in close proximity and at the blind spot of the vehicle. This provision has been introduced taking into account that, despite increasing the number of mirrors to provide a better visibility in the area in front of the vehicle, accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists still occur frequently.
