Speed alerts, reflective tyres: Govt weighs 2-wheeler safety overhaul

MoRTH is considering phased safety rules for two-wheelers, including speed alerts, reflective tyres, pedestrian warnings and leg guards, to reduce road deaths

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is weighing a broad package of new safety requirements for two-wheelers, including over-speeding alerts, sound systems to warn pedestrians of quieter electric vehicles, reflective tyres, leg guards and changes to silencer design, according to government officials. 

The move comes as two-wheelers dominate India’s vehicle market and their riders remain among the most vulnerable on roads. 

A record 21.7 million two-wheelers were sold in 2025-26, nearly five times the 4.643 million cars sold during that year. Furthermore, two-wheeler riders accounted for 81,740 road deaths in 2024; together with pedestrians, they represented nearly 67 per cent of all road fatalities, according to MoRTH data. 

The measures under discussion could be part of AIS-223, an Automotive Industry Standard under development. The government is considering a phased rollout, with some features introduced first while their effectiveness is assessed before others are made mandatory, officials told Business Standard. 

A phased approach would also help limit costs for manufacturers and consumers in a price-sensitive market where the industry is wary of absorbing several new safety requirements at once. 

Demand for two-wheelers remains strong. Domestic sales rose 20.9 per cent year-on-year to 7.552 million units in April-July, according to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam). 

Among the proposed measures is mandatory use of reflective tyres to improve the side visibility of two-wheelers. Leg guards are also being considered to protect riders in a crash or fall. 

The ministry is separately considering prescribing the height and upward angle of silencer tail-pipe outlets to prevent exhaust gases from being directed towards pedestrians or riders travelling behind a vehicle, particularly in congested traffic, officials said. 

Siam is also discussing with the ministry a proposal for an audio alert to warn riders when they exceed a specified speed, according to officials. 

MoRTH and Siam did not immediately respond to Business Standard’s queries on the matter. 

Two-wheeler manufacturers and Siam have identified several safety parameters and are working with academic institutions, including IIT Delhi and IIT Madras, to assess how effectively they reduce accidents. 

The study is expected to take about 18 months to evaluate all the parameters. The aim is to establish the effectiveness of individual measures before they become mandatory, officials said. 

IIT Delhi, during a recent meeting with the ministry, also stressed the need for an effectiveness study, arguing that regulations introduced without first establishing their benefits could impose unnecessary costs on society, officials said. 

MoRTH is therefore considering a phased implementation. Over-speeding alerts, reflective features and the acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS) could form the first phase, with other requirements considered later based on the study’s findings and further discussions, officials said. 

AVAS generates an external sound from relatively quiet electric vehicles, making them more detectable to pedestrians and other road users. The system is already under regulatory consideration in India, including for electric two-wheelers.

A hands-off riding alert is also being developed under AIS-223. The central government first began considering mandatory warning and detection systems for the feature in July 2025. 

Draft AIS-223/D4 was published on the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) portal on April 29, with comments invited until May 30. It proposed a three-layer system: A two-wheeler would not start unless both hands were on the grips; audio and visual warnings would be issued if the rider removed a hand while riding; and the vehicle would progressively slow if the rider kept both hands off.