Presently, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is standardized for all two-wheeler models with engine capacity above 150cc in the Indian market.
The Union Govt is planning to make ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) a mandatory safety fitment in all two-wheelers from Jan 1, 2026. Sources close to the development indicate that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, headed by Nitin Gadkari, is likely to issue the official notification soon. This could lead to a hike in the price of two-wheeler models by Rs 2500 to Rs 5000, which in all likelihood will not be absorbed by the OEMs and instead passed on to the customers. Presently, all the two-wheelers above 150cc engine are required to offer ABS as standard feature.
This move to make ABS as a compulsory safety feature in all the two-wheeler models sold in India is being carried out to curb the number of road accidents and fatalities. According to the data available, scooters and motorcycles were involved in as many as 151,997 road accidents in 2022, which makes for around 20 percent of the total accidents.
“This is a long-needed measure. Many pedestrian accidents are caused by abrupt braking without vehicle control,” said Rohit Baluja, director at the Institute of Road Traffic and Education (IRTE), a non-profit firm working towards road safety and traffic management. Just so you know, the entry-level scooters, mopeds and motorcycles below 150cc account for nearly 75 percent of overall two-wheeler sales in India.
While it is certain that including ABS as standard safety feature in the smaller two-wheelers will make them expensive, it is still not clear that up to what extent accidents will be reduced by this move. Also, the demand is likely to go down due to higher prices. “Any regulation that adds cost tends to weigh on demand,” said an analyst at a domestic brokerage.
“Two-wheelers account for 44% of road fatalities in India. Hence, improving their safety is a major priority and introduction of ABS for all two wheelers was much needed,” said KK Kapila, president emeritus at International Road Federation, a global road safety body. For those asking, ABS doesn’t allow the wheel to lock during sudden braking and hence prevents the vehicle from slipping or skidding.
“Two-wheelers are the lifeline of major cities in the country despite improvement in public transport and we have to live with them. The only way to reduce road accidents is to find ways and means to make them safe with use of technology,” he said.
