Petrol cars, EVs and crash-test standards face changes; vehicle owners, check how the government plans to make cars safer

The government has tightened vehicle safety standards to reduce the risk of fuel leaks, fires and electrical hazards in rear-end collisions. Under the revised norms, all new vehicles manufactured from April 2029 will have to comply with updated requirements for protecting fuel systems and electric power drive systems. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has also made Automotive Industry Standard (AIS)-192 mandatory for Event Data Recorders (EDRs) installed in vehicles from October 2029. However, fitting an EDR is not compulsory for all cars, and the feature remains optional.

The latest changes form part of a wider update to vehicle safety regulations, covering crash protection, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, fuel systems and pedestrian safety.

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New car safety rules 2029: How the government plans to prevent fires after crashes

The revised Automotive Industry Standard AIS-101 sets requirements for fuel systems following a rear-impact crash test. Under the updated rules, liquid-fuel systems must not develop more than slight leakage, while continuous leakage must not exceed 30 grams per minute.

The fuel system must also be designed so that a fire cannot be sustained following the impact. These requirements aim to reduce the risk of fuel escaping and catching fire after a rear-end collision.

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The rules apply to vehicles powered by liquid fuels and are intended to strengthen protection against post-crash fire hazards.

EV battery safety rules: What changes after a rear-end collision?

The revised standards also introduce requirements for electric vehicles, focusing on battery retention and protection against electrical hazards during and after a crash.

Under the rules, an EV's battery and its securing mechanism must remain in position during and after the impact test. The standards also address protection against electrical risks, including the automatic disconnection of the high-voltage circuit following a collision.

These requirements are designed to reduce the risk of electrical hazards when an electric vehicle is involved in a crash.

Event Data Recorder rules: Is an EDR mandatory in every car?

The road transport ministry has notified AIS-192 as the mandatory standard for Event Data Recorders installed in vehicles from October 2029. However, the notification does not make EDRs compulsory in every car.

An EDR records information about a vehicle's behaviour immediately before and during a crash. The data can help investigators establish how a collision occurred and understand the events leading up to it.

Often compared with an aircraft's black box, the device can provide useful information during crash investigations and vehicle safety assessments.

New car crash-test norms: Frontal and side-impact protection

The government has also revised vehicle safety requirements for frontal and side-impact collisions.

The updated crash-protection standards are scheduled to apply to new vehicle models from October 2027. They will be extended to all models from October 2028.

The phased implementation gives manufacturers a timeline to bring new models and existing vehicle ranges into compliance with the revised requirements.

Pedestrian safety rules for new vehicles

The revised regulations also cover protection for pedestrians and other vulnerable road users. The updated standard is scheduled to apply to new vehicle models from October 2028.

The changes form part of the government's broader effort to strengthen vehicle safety beyond occupant protection, with revised requirements addressing the risks faced by people outside vehicles.

With the new timelines, manufacturers will need to update vehicle designs and safety systems to meet the revised standards for crash protection, fuel-system integrity, EV battery retention and electrical safety.


Inputs from TOI