From April 2026, all new passenger vehicle models carrying more than eight passengers, as well as buses and trucks, must be equipped with advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS), driver drowsiness and attention warning systems (DDAWS), and lane departure warning systems (LDWS).

These safety measures, proposed under a draft notification by the Ministry of Road Transport, will also apply to existing vehicle models manufactured from October 2026.

According to a report by media sources, authored by Dipak K Dash, the ministry has proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules to make advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) mandatory.

These regulations aim to reduce road accidents by issuing warnings to drivers and automatically applying brakes if no corrective action is taken in time.

Under the proposed regulations, both mini and regular buses, along with trucks manufactured after the specified deadlines, must include AEBS and vehicle stability functions.

AEBS will detect potential forward collisions and, if the driver does not respond promptly, will activate the brakes to reduce vehicle speed and mitigate the severity of impact.

The LDWS will also become a mandatory feature, providing alerts when a vehicle unintentionally drifts out of its lane. This system will issue visual, auditory, or haptic warnings to prompt corrective action, thereby reducing the risk of accidents caused by driver distraction or fatigue.

The DDAWS will monitor driver alertness by analysing steering patterns, lane positioning, and facial movements.

If signs of drowsiness are detected, the system will issue audio warnings to address the risk of delayed reaction times, particularly at high speeds.

Additionally, buses and trucks will be required to install an onboard blind spot information system. This system will identify pedestrians and cyclists in blind spots and issue warnings to the driver, addressing concerns that accidents involving vulnerable road users remain frequent despite the use of additional mirrors.

These mandatory safety features reflect the government's commitment to improving road safety and reducing the number of accidents involving commercial vehicles.