The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) on February 13, 2026, issued Mandatory Safety Devices for Heavy Commercial Vehicles.
The Government of India has introduced a series of regulatory and technological measures to improve the safety of medium and heavy-duty trucks. Updated braking standards (IS 11852:2019) and mandatory electronic stability control and advanced emergency braking systems will apply to trucks from October 2027, strengthening vehicle stability and crash prevention. Additional driver-assistance technologies—including blind spot detection, moving-off alerts, driver drowsiness detection, and lane departure warnings—will become mandatory from January 2028 to reduce accidents caused by human error and improve protection of vulnerable road users.
To improve driver welfare and vehicle safety design, truck cabins must now be equipped with air conditioning to reduce fatigue. Structural safety requirements include cabin strength testing, reverse parking alert systems, reflective rear markings, and rear and lateral under-run protection devices. These measures aim to reduce both accident occurrence and injury severity through improved vehicle engineering and visibility standards.
The Government is also strengthening driver training and testing infrastructure nationwide by supporting the establishment of Institutes of Driving Training & Research, Regional Driving Training Centres, and district-level Driving Training Centres. Revised guidelines provide higher financial assistance and encourage integrated training and automated vehicle testing facilities to improve driver competency and compliance.
In addition, the Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 provides immediate medical support to accident victims, including treatment coverage up to ₹1.5 lakh for a maximum of seven days. The scheme operates through digital integration between police accident reporting and hospital claim processing systems managed by the National Health Authority, with reimbursements funded through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund. These combined policy, technological, and welfare measures are intended to enhance road safety outcomes and strengthen emergency response systems across India.
[Release ID: 2227148]
