Here’s a fact: India has the highest number of road fatalities in the world. Road accidents in India have claimed 1,47,913 lives in 2017 and left 4,70,975 injured. While the numbers are simply shameful, there is hope that our roads could get a bit safer thanks to the new two-wheeler and four-wheeler safety norms that come into effect in 2019. Read on to know more about them.

APRIL 2019

ABS for two-wheelers

One really cannot emphasise enough on the usefulness of ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System). The feature prevents the wheels from locking up under hard braking and can be the difference between life and death on the road. By modulating the brakes to prevent a lock-up, the system grants the rider control even in a panic-braking scenario.

As per the norms, all new two-wheelers with an engine displacement over 125cc will have to be equipped with ABS by April 1, 2019. Smaller displacement models (with engines up to 125cc) need to have compulsory fitment of the combi-braking system (CBS). While the mandate was already applicable on all new two-wheelers launched after April 1, 2018, it will extend to all existing models in the market starting April 2019.

In the run-up to the application of the norms, a few manufacturers have already equipped their existing bikes with either single- or dual-channel ABS, while others are likely to do so in the first three months of 2019.

ABS for four-wheelers

The fitment of ABS was mandatory on all new cars from April 2018 and will become mandatory for all cars on sale (including existing models) from April 2019.

JULY 2019

Come July 1, 2019, all cars will have to be equipped with a driver-side airbag, a speed warning system, a seatbelt reminder for driver and co-driver, and rear parking sensors as standard.

Speed alert system

The speed warning system will send out an alert every 60sec above 80kph, and then continuously beep at speeds above 120kph. The system cannot be overridden or turned off and is designed to reduce over-speeding, which has been seen to be the cause of many accidents.

Reverse parking sensor

Also set to become standard on all cars are reverse sensors. The sensors activate when the reverse gear is engaged and provide an audio/visual warning of any object in the path of the car. Parking sensors mainly help prevent injury to children or collision with low objects that might not be visible by the car’s mirrors. While most premium vehicles come equipped with reverse parking sensors or reversing cameras as part of their standard equipment, reverse sensors, at present, are restricted to a select few models in the budget segments.

Driver and co-driver seatbelt reminder

Another warning sound in the car will be for the front seatbelt reminder. All cars will sound an alarm if both the driver and front passenger are not belted up. The idea is to promote the use of seat belts, which are the most important passive safety aids.  

Driver airbag

A driver-side airbag will also become mandatory on all cars in July. As is widely accepted, airbags can drastically reduce injury in the event of a collision. In conjunction with stronger crash structures required to meet the new crash test norms, the mandatory fitment of a driver-side airbag should bring down the possibility of injuries in the event of a collision. However, it is a shame that the norms mandate only a driver-side airbag and not dual airbags which would have provided enhanced protection to the front-seat occupant as well.

Manual override for central locking system

Cars with central locking will also require a manual override, by law. In transport vehicles, child locks will not be allowed either. The latter is a sad outcome of cases in which the child-lock feature (that only allows the doors to be opened from the outside) was misused to endanger the safety of women passengers.

OCTOBER 2019

Crash-test norms compliance

More stringent requirements for full-frontal impact, offset-frontal impact and lateral/side impact have been brought into force on all cars launched after October 1, 2017. The requirements will expand in scope and will apply to all models on sale in India from October 1, 2019. Likewise, new norms for pedestrian safety (applicable for new models from October 1, 2018) will now cover all new models from 2020.

As per the new crash-test requirements, vehicles will be tested for full-frontal impact at 48kph, offset-frontal impact with a fixed deformable barrier at 56kph and side impact with a mobile deformable barrier at 50kph.

Many manufacturers will have to heavily re-engineer older models (or even discontinue them entirely) to meet the new norms. In effect, 2019 could be the end of the road for many of the older models in India.