Key highlights
- Indian government to mandate ADAS features soon
- Vehicles carrying more than 8 passengers to be equipped with ADAS
- New and existing vehicles to get these safety features
To improve road and passenger safety, the Indian government is working on mandating select autonomous safety assist features in private and commercial vehicles soon. Check its complete details below.
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Indian government to mandate ADAS – Good decision?
As per an online report, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed mandating the use of select autonomous driving aids in vehicles with a capacity of 8 passengers or more.
This new rule will mostly be implemented on commercial vehicles as there are a handful of passenger vehicles with 8 passenger seating options.
So, what features are proposed for the added safety? Well, the first is the Advanced Emergency Braking System, which auto brakes the vehicle by sensing the traffic condition in the front. This is helpful in stopping the vehicle if the driver cannot brake on time for any reason.
The second will be the Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning System. It detects the sleep deprivation of the driver by using the lane assist and steering input patterns. If the vehicle is not being controlled properly by the driver, the vehicle auto brakes itself for safety with hazard lights switched on.
The other two important features will include the Lande Departure Warning System that monitors the safe lane changes, and the Blind Spot Detection System which alerts the driver for vehicles in the blind spot zone.
The report also says that this new rule will be implemented on the existing models as well. The vehicles that will be produced from October 2026 are going to be equipped with these ADAS features. This will include the multi-axle trucks and buses as well.
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Our verdict
The introduction of autonomous safety features in commercial vehicles is going to be a revolutionary step in road and passenger safety in India. While it will increase the cost of buying marginally, the amount of lives it will save annually will be staggering.