Govt mandates advanced safety technologies for heavy commercial vehicles from 2027

The Centre has notified a series of mandatory safety upgrades for medium and heavy commercial vehicles, including advanced braking systems, electronic stability control, and driver assistance technologies, in a bid to reduce road fatalities and improve vehicle safety standards. 

According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a revised braking standard — IS 11852:2019 — has been mandated for trucks with effect from October 1, 2027. The updated norm, notified vide GSR 834(E) dated November 11, 2025, was earlier applicable only to buses built by Original Equipment Manufacturers. The move is aimed at enhancing brake performance evaluation for heavy vehicles. 

Electronic Stability Control systems under AIS 162 have also been made mandatory for trucks from October 1, 2027. These systems are designed to improve vehicle stability, particularly during braking on curves. 

In addition, Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AIS 162) will become compulsory from the same date. The system enables automatic braking if a driver fails to respond to an emergency situation, either preventing a collision or reducing the impact.

The information was provided by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Jairam Gadkari in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. 

Advanced driver assistance, fatigue mitigation from 2028 

The government has further mandated the fitment of advanced driver assistance systems to protect vulnerable road users. Blind Spot Information System (AIS 186) and Moving Off Information System (AIS 187) will be compulsory from January 1, 2028. 

To address risks arising from driver fatigue, Driver Drowsiness Detection and Alert Systems (AIS 184) and Lane Departure Warning Systems (AIS 188) will also be mandatory from January 1, 2028. These systems are intended to alert drivers in case of loss of attention or unintended lane deviation. 

Separately, to reduce fatigue and improve working conditions, air-conditioning in truck cabins has been made mandatory under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules from October 1, 2025. 

Structural and visibility safety norms have also been reinforced. Goods vehicles manufactured on or after April 1, 2020 — except puller tractors for trailers — must be fitted with reverse parking alert systems compliant with AIS-145:2017. Trucks are required to carry reflective tapes as per AIS-090:2005 and be equipped with rear and lateral under-run protective devices in line with IS 14812 and IS 14862 standards. Truck cabins must also undergo structural strength testing. 

Training ecosystem, cashless accident care strengthened 

On the training and enforcement front, the government continues to support the establishment of Institutes of Driving Training & Research (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs) and Driving Training Centres (DTCs) across states and districts. Revised guidelines provide enhanced financial assistance and streamlined eligibility norms. Financial support has been fixed at ₹17.25 crore for IDTRs, ₹5.50 crore for RDTCs and ₹2.50 crore for DTCs. Incentives have also been introduced for setting up Automated Testing Stations under a Training-Testing Cluster approach. 

Meanwhile, the statutory Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 has been notified under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The scheme provides treatment cover of up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim for a maximum of seven days from the date of the accident, for victims involved in road accidents caused by motor vehicles. 

Under the framework, every accident victim is entitled to stabilisation treatment for up to 24 hours in non-life-threatening cases and up to 48 hours in life-threatening cases at designated hospitals, subject to police response. The scheme takes precedence over any other central or state-level scheme.