[mega5918]

NEW DELHI: All four-wheelers plying on Indian roads may have to have anti-lock braking systems. The government may make it mandatory for every vehicle to be fitted with the anti-lock system.

"The government is considering to formulate a law regarding vehicular safety, which would make it mandatory for all four-wheeler manufacturers to install anti-lock system in all vehicles," road secretary Vijay Singh told ET.

The proposal has been mooted by the committee constituted to set up the National Road Safety Board. The committee is headed by former secretary in the ministry of surface transport S Sundar.

The approved recommendations of the committee would be binding. Anti-lock braking system (ABS), which is a compulsory component in vehicles in many western countries, is optional in India at present. ABS prevents the wheels from locking while braking. The purpose is to allow the driver to maintain steering control under heavy braking.

It also helps to shorten braking distances by allowing the driver to hit the brake fully without the fear of skidding or loss of control. Road safety standards, implemented rigorously throughout the world, are yet to be made enforceable in India.

At present, the only legislation related to road safety is the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which has been amended three times so far. The Act, however, does not directly deal with safety issues. The committee is also expected to suggest the geometric for construction and maintenance of highways.

The recommendations of the committee would require the approval of the union minister of shipping, road transport and highways. Thereafter the draft bill would be sent to the department of legal affairs, since the recommendations of the committee would require a legally enforceable Act, Mr Singh said. It is also proposed to levy a 1% road cess to support expenditures of the board.

Source: The Economic Times

Thanks
Mega

[ajmat]

Just read about this too. This is a much needed fitment. This will spell the end of the

M800,Amby, Sumo, all those 1940's derived trucks and a whole lot of dinosaurs bing manufactured. Development costs for these will be expensive

[naveendhyani]

good to hear the govt is taking initiative to make our vehicles better. mayb somebody should give them the link to TBHP so that they start working on lots of better things faster.

[hyper-VTEC]

The Govt. has woken up at last

[Boom Shiva]

I suppose this would only be for future vehicles. Retro fitting will be too much of a task.

[swale84]

definitely a welcome rule change, Even if it isn't enforced for each and every model, ABS is definitely something that should atleast be incorporated in cars with power above a certain bhp (Say 90 - 100). Or any other parameter such as engine capacity/top speed/vehicle size, that the committee deems fit.

Maybe cars like the M800 etc. don't really need it & it would drastically increase the price in the case of low budget cars. On the other hand, with the volumes which will come into play, I'm sure the cost differential can be greatly reduced.

Wonder what this will do to the Tata 1 lakh car though? :-)

Has any time frame been specified for enforcing this? with the number of approvals that this will require, not to mention powerfull automotive lobbies that may want to delay something like this, I really wonder........

Originally Posted by mega5918

The recommendations of the committee would require the approval of the union minister of shipping, road transport and highways. Thereafter the draft bill would be sent to the department of legal affairs, since the recommendations of the committee would require a legally enforceable Act, Mr Singh said. It is also proposed to levy a 1% road cess to support expenditures of the board.

Source: The Economic Times

Thanks
Mega

[esteem_lover]

at last, luxury has become a necessity. ABS, Air Bags, Seat Belts were provided only in high end models. nice to know that the government is taking initiatives.

[naveendhyani]

considering this becomes a norm in the industry i do believe the prices will come down & as long as prices of low budget cars are concerned, its better we have safer cars than some dead people trying to race in their souped up 11 lac cars.

[humyum]

Atleast maruti should start giving the maruti 800s with brake booster.Will really reduce the braking distance as the maruti 800s without the brake booster have real pathetic brakes

[maxbhp]

Now does that mean no more screeching stops or hand brake turns ?

[GTO]

EXCELLENT!!! And long awaited. ABS is a vital tool in emergency braking situations, especially for the not-so-skilled drivers which are a dime a dozen on our roads.

I remember reading very recently that the USA is also planning to make ABS mandatory on all new passenger cars. Are we going to beat them to it?

[Steeroid]

First the directive on bucket seats for MUVs and now this. Looks like someone out there is actually working!!!

I wonder if these are isolated directives or are part of a new policy being drafted ?

[himanshugoswami]

Along with ABS, Govt should also make Airbags mandatory. Also, the seat belt rule needs to be implemented countrywide. Currently, only Delhi and Mumbai (I think) have made it mandatory.

One thing though- these developmets will push up the base price of all cars by at least 15-20K. will be interesting to see if this has any affect on car sales (hopefully it shouldnt, sinc ehtis is safety that we are talking about!)

[finneyp]

Thatz a Great move by the Government!
Atleast, someone in the Govt is concerned about safety!!!

[kvish]

It will be interesting to watch the impact on the 1L car...
Currently ABS costs around 25K which will be about 25% of the car value..

I have a feeling govt is trying to indirectly influence the increase in car prices so that affordability is reduced and hence lesser cars on the roads... If they bring Airbags also into picture, then one has to forget cars below 3L...

Good move, love to see more additions to it and make it a comprehensive Auto policy.... (BAN reverse horns and the lorry horns... I hope this figures in the law too... something has to be done about the noise pollution...)