**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Unstarred Question No. 2266 in Lok Sabha, answered on February 12th, 2026, regarding mandatory safety devices for heavy commercial vehicles. It outlines government initiatives concerning vehicle safety, driver training, and healthcare for road accident victims. Key deadlines include the implementation dates for mandated safety systems in trucks, starting with revised braking standards in October 2027.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Vehicle Safety Enhancements:**
* **Braking Standards:** Revised braking standards (IS 11852 2019) are mandated for trucks from October 1st, 2027.
* **Electronic Stability Control (ESC):** Mandatory implementation of ESC systems (AIS 162) for trucks from October 1st, 2027.
* **Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS):** AEBS (AIS 162) is mandatory for trucks from October 1st, 2027.
* **Advanced Driver Assistance:** Blind Spot Information System (AIS 186) and Moving Off Information System (AIS 187) are mandatory from January 1st, 2028.
* **Driver Fatigue Mitigation:** Driver Drowsiness Detection and Alert system (AIS 184) and Lane Departure Warning System (AIS 188) are mandatory from January 1st, 2028.
* **Driver Comfort:** Mandatory AC fitment in truck cabins under CMVR from October 1st, 2025.
* **Structural Integrity:** Goods vehicles must undergo a truck cabin structural strength test.
* **Reverse Parking Alert:** Goods vehicles manufactured after April 1st, 2020 (excluding puller tractors) must have a reverse parking alert system (AIS-145:2017).
* **Under-run Protection:** Trucks must be fitted with rear and lateral under-run protective devices (IS: 14812 and IS: 14862).
* **Reflective Tape:** Trucks are required to be fitted with reflective tape per AIS-090:2005 standards.
* **Driver Training Initiatives:**
* The government administers a scheme for establishing Institutes of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs), and Driving Training Centres (DTCs).
* Revised guidelines offer enhanced financial assistance and streamlined eligibility.
* Incentives are available for setting up Automated Testing Stations (ATS) alongside Driving Training Institutes (DTIs).
* Financial provisions for training institutes are as follows: IDTR (Rs.17.25 Crore), RDTC (Rs.5.50 Crore), and DTC (Rs.2.50 Crore).
* **Healthcare for Road Accident Victims:**
* The Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 is notified (S.O. 2015(E) dated 05.05.2025), with detailed guidelines and SOPs (S.O. 2489 (E) dated 04.06.2025).
* Treatment cover up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim is provided, capped at 7 days from the accident date.
* Stabilization treatment for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and 48 hours in life-threatening cases at designated hospitals, is provided.
* The scheme takes precedence over other Central/State schemes.
* Implementation uses e-DAR (police reporting) and TMS 2.0 (hospital treatment/claim processing).
* Reimbursement is through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF), funded by insurance contributions and budgetary support.
**Impact Analysis**
* **Truck Manufacturers/OEMs:**
**Impact:** Must comply with new mandatory safety device regulations, including revised braking standards, ESC, AEBS, advanced driver assistance systems, AC installation, and structural strength testing.
**Action Required:** Integrate the mandated safety devices and standards into the design and manufacturing processes of new trucks and ensure existing vehicles meet retrofit requirements, where applicable.
* **Truck Owners/Operators:**
**Impact:** Increased costs associated with purchasing or retrofitting vehicles to meet safety standards. Potential benefits from reduced accidents and improved driver safety/comfort.
**Action Required:** Ensure their fleets are compliant with the new safety regulations and retrofit existing trucks as required. Budget for the costs associated with compliance.
* **Truck Drivers:**
**Impact:** Safer working environment due to the implementation of advanced safety features. Mandatory AC fitment improves driver comfort.
**Action Required:** Familiarize themselves with the operation and benefits of the new safety devices and systems installed in their vehicles.
* **Road Accident Victims:**
**Impact:** Access to immediate cashless treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh for road accident injuries, which is provided during the critical period following an accident.
**Action Required:** Be aware of the cashless treatment scheme and seek treatment at designated hospitals following a road accident.
* **Driving Training Institutes (IDTRs, RDTCs, DTCs):**
**Impact:** Opportunity to establish or upgrade training facilities with government financial assistance and incentives. Increased demand for driver training to meet the evolving requirements.
**Action Required:** Review revised scheme guidelines, apply for financial assistance, and align training programs with the latest safety regulations and technologies.
* **Hospitals:**
**Impact:** Play a key role in providing cashless treatment to road accident victims under the scheme.
**Action Required:** Integrate with the TMS 2.0 platform for claim submission and processing of payments, and understand the procedures for reimbursement from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF).
* **Police Officials:**
**Impact:** Responsible for reporting accidents using the e-DAR platform.
**Action Required:** Utilize the e-DAR platform for efficient and accurate reporting of road accidents.
* **General Insurance Companies:**
**Impact:** Contribute to the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF) to support the cashless treatment scheme.
**Action Required:** Continue contributing to the MVAF as per the established guidelines.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The primary ministry responsible for policies related to road transport and highways.
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Section 162: Legal mandate for cashless treatment of road accident victims.
Institutes of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs) and Driving Training Centres (DTCs): A scheme for setting up driving training centers.
Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025: Scheme to provide cashless treatment for road accident victims, notified vide S.O. 2015(E).
AIS (Automotive Industry Standards): Automotive Industry Standards, for mandatory implementation of safety features in vehicles.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. - 2266
ANSWERED ON 12th FEBRUARY, 2026
MANDATORY SAFETY DEVICES FOR HEAVY COMMERCIAL
VEHICLES
2266. SHRI RAO RAJENDRA SINGH:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether any safety devices have been proposed to be made
mandatory for heavy commercial vehicles to reduce highway
accidents;
(b) whether any centrally funded scheme aims to address the
shortage of skilled drivers in the country and the financial
provisions for establishing driving training centres; and
(c) the details of the healthcare initiatives planned to be
implemented for road accident victims and the benefits proposed to
be provided during the critical period following an accident?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) The Government has undertaken following steps to enhance
the safety of the medium and heavy-duty vehicles:
i. To enhance evaluation of brake performance- revised braking
standard (IS 11852 2019) has been mandated [vide GSR 834(E)
dated 11th Nov 2025] for trucks w.e.f 01st Oct 2027. Earlier,the said standard was applicable to buses built by Original
Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) only.
ii. Braking systems have been advanced with mandatory
implementation of electronic stability control systems (AIS
162) [vide GSR 834(E) dated 11th Nov 2025] for trucks w.e.f
01st Oct 2027 which provide stability specially in the event of
braking at curves.
iii. Further Advanced Emergency Braking System (AIS 162) w.e.f
01st Oct 2027 has been made mandatory which provides for
automatic braking in event of failure of driver to respond to
emergency situations to either avoid crash with obstacles in
front or reduce the impact of crash.
iv. Advanced driver assistance technologies such as Blind Spot
Information System (AIS 186) and Moving Off Information
System(AIS 187) w.e.f 01st January 2028, have been made
mandatory which will enhance safety of vulnerable road users.
v. To mitigate the impact of the dangerous situation of a driver
falling asleep and thus the vehicle losing the desired course of
movement, systems such as Driver Drowsiness Detection and
Alert system has been mandated (AIS 184) w.e.f 01st January
2028. Additionally, the lane departure warning system (AIS
188) has been made mandatory w.e.f 01st January 2028 which
gives a warning in the event of vehicle deviating from the
expected course of movement.
vi. Further, to reduce driver fatigue, mandatory Fitment of AC in
truck cabins has been mandated under CMVR w.e.f 01st
October, 2025.
Goods vehicle are required to undergo a truck cabin structural
strength test.
The goods vehicles, manufactured on and after 01st April 2020,
except for puller tractors for trailers, are required to be fitted with a
reverse parking alert system complying with the requirements of
AIS-145:2017. The trucks are required to be fitted with a reflectivetape across the width of the body in accordance with the
requirements of AIS- 090:2005.
The trucks are required to be fitted with Rear under-run
protective device and a lateral under-run protective device in
accordance with IS: 14812 and IS:14862, respectively.
(b) The Government administers a scheme for setting up of
Institutes of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving
Training Centres (RDTCs) and Driving Training Centres (DTCs) at
State/district level across the Country. Recently revised scheme
guidelines have been issued, incorporating enhanced financial
assistance and streamlined eligibility criteria for establishing
Driving Training Institutes. Additionally, incentives have been
introduced for setting up Automated Testing Stations (ATS) in
conjunction with Driving Training Institutes (DTIs) under the
Training-Testing Cluster approach.
Financial provisions for various training institutes are as
under-
IDTR - Rs.17.25 Crore
RDTC - Rs.5.50 Crore
DTC - Rs.2.50 Crore
(c) In accordance with the legal mandate under Section 162 of
the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Cashless Treatment for Road
Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 has been notified vide S.O. 2015(E)
dated 05.05.2025. Furthermore, comprehensive guidelines detailing
the process flow, roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders,
and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for its
implementation have been issued vide S.O. 2489 (E) dated
04.06.2025. Key features of the scheme include: -
(i) Treatment cover upto Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim will be provided,
subject to a maximum cap of 7 days from date of accident. The
treatment cover will be available to those victims who are involved
in road accidents caused by use of motor vehicles.
(ii) Every road accident victim shall be provided stabilization
treatment for upto 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and upto48 hours in life-threatening cases at designated hospitals, subject
to police response.
(iii) This statutory scheme will take precedence over any other
Central / State level schemes.
(iv) The scheme has been successfully implemented through the
amalgamation of two existing technological platforms: e-DAR
(electronic Detailed Accident Report) used by Police officials for
reporting of accidents and TMS 2.0 (Transaction Management
System) of National Health Authority (NHA) used by hospitals for
treatment, claim submission and processing of payments. The
reimbursement to hospitals is being done through Motor Vehicle
Accident Fund (MVAF) which is funded through contributions from
General Insurance companies for cases where the offending Motor
Vehicle is insured and through budgetary support for other-than-
insured cases.
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