New Rule Alert: Govt Mandates New Safety Feature and 2 Helmets for Every Two-Wheeler
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The government is now taking the safety of two-wheeler riders on the road more seriously. In view of the ever-increasing road accidents in the country, the government is soon going to make an important safety feature mandatory in all new two-wheelers.
According to reports, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is going to issue a new notification soon. Under this notification, it will be mandatory to install Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) in all new two-wheelers manufactured in India, be it motorcycles or scooters, from January 2026. Most importantly, ABS will be mandatory in all vehicles, irrespective of the engine capacity.
What is ABS?
ABS i.e. Anti-lock Braking System is an important safety system that prevents the wheels of a bike or any vehicle from locking when sudden braking is applied. Its main purpose is to ensure that when you brake sharply, the wheels do not slip and the vehicle remains balanced. This is an extremely essential feature in today's fast-paced lifestyle.
Imagine you are riding a bike and suddenly there is an obstacle, like a vehicle or a bad road. In such a situation, people often apply the brakes hard. If the wheels get locked, that is, stop rotating, the bike may skid and an accident may occur. ABS helps to avoid this situation.
How does ABS work?
ABS consists of special sensors and an electronic control unit (ECU) that constantly monitor the speed of the wheels. As you apply the brakes, the sensors measure the speed of the wheels. If a wheel suddenly starts to lock, ABS momentarily reduces the brake pressure on that wheel. As soon as the bike regains balance, the system immediately applies the brakes again.
This process is repeated several times every second, preventing the wheels from skidding and keeping the rider in control of the bike no matter how hard the brakes are applied.
There are mainly two types of ABS: first, single channel ABS, which works only on the front wheel, and second, dual channel ABS, which works on both front and rear wheels and is considered safer.
What are the rules regarding ABS right now?
Currently, ABS is mandatory only in two-wheelers with engine capacity of more than 125 cc. This means that about 45% of the bikes sold in the country do not have this feature. The main reason for this is that the sales of commuter bikes with engines less than 125 cc, such as Hero Splendor, Honda Shine, TVS Sport and Bajaj Platina, are very high in the Indian market.
After the new rule comes into force, this safety feature will be available in all new bikes and motorcycles. Since most vehicles can run at speeds of over 70 kmph, this feature will play an important role in reducing accidents.
Two helmets will also be provided along with it!
Along with ABS, the government is preparing to bring in another important rule. The ministry will soon make it mandatory for vehicle manufacturers and dealers to provide two BIS-certified helmets at the time of sale of two-wheelers. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had already mentioned this proposal.
About 44% of road accident deaths in the country are of two-wheeler drivers. Most of these deaths are due to serious head injuries caused by not wearing helmets or wearing poor quality helmets. In such a situation, getting two helmets at the time of purchasing a vehicle will greatly improve safety.
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