New Delhi: The ministry of road transport and highways has proposed making event data recorders (EDRs) mandatory in vehicles from October 1, 2029, to capture critical technical and safety data before, during and after a collision.

In a recent notification, the ministry also mandated immobilisers for M1 category vehicles, including passenger cars with a maximum seating capacity of nine people, to prevent theft. Road accident fatalities in India rose 2.3% to more than 177,000 in 2024, resulting in 485 deaths every day.

The ministry has also mandated changes to the arrangement and mode of operation of foot controls in all new vehicle models manufactured on or after April 1, 2028. The changes aim to align with international safety regulations and accommodate the growing demand for electric vehicles To protect pedestrians and other vulnerable road users in collisions with motor vehicles, the ministry has mandated the use of the Flexible Pedestrian Leg Impactor (FlexPLI) test tool from October 1, 2032. These provisions are part of the government's plan to make automotive safety standards mandatory as it seeks to improve vehicle safety and reduce road accidents.

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The ministry has also proposed mandatory Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) in passenger vehicles from October 2030, tightening the safety norms for passenger vehicles to prevent fatalities. As part of the proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, M1-category vehicles manufactured from October 1, 2030, under new models and from October 1, 2032, across all models will have to be fitted with AEBS conforming to Automotive Industry Standard (AIS)-185.

The draft rules, notified on Thursday, also provide that M1 and N1-category vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2028, if equipped with AEBS, must comply with AIS-185. M1 vehicles generally include passenger cars, while N1 vehicles are light goods vehicles.

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The proposed amendments are aimed at strengthening vehicle safety standards and establishing requirements for advanced braking and steering technologies.