Mint explainer: What does the two-wheeler braking system mandate mean?
New Delhi: India’s two-wheeler market has just logged a record year, crossing 20 million units in sales, but the milestone comes with a fresh bout of regulatory uncertainty. Manufacturers are still awaiting a formal notification on the Centre’s proposal to mandate anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on all two-wheelers below 125 cc from 1 January.Even as the cost increase-wary industry pushes for a combined braking system (CBS) as an alternative, Mint explains why the government is pressing ahead with ABS and the safety trade-offs at the centre of the debate.For one, India is the world’s biggest two-wheeler market by sales.
Its roads, however, have not proven to be the safest for riders. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that road accidents and the resulting fatalities have been on the rise.
In 2023, the number of road accidents rose to over 464,000 from about 422,000 in 2021. Similarly, the NCRB’s reports on accidental deaths and suicides showed road fatalities rising to nearly 198,000 in 2023 from about 173,000 in 2021.The data on road accidents and fatalities on national highways by various categories of road users shows two-wheeler accidents have had higher fatality rates, ratings agency Icra noted in June last year.
“ABS is the latest in a series of initiatives taken by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to enhance safety standards; it prevents the wheels from locking up during braking, especially on slippery surfaces, thereby enhancing safety,” it said.Moreover, the massive size of this market means any mandate imposed on manufacturing standards impacts large-scale production. “Hero MotoCorp and TVS Motors will be the most impacted, as 94% and 64% of their total volumes, respectively,
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