Transport ministry proposes low-beam only rule for two-wheelers to cut glare from April 2028

The transport ministry has proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicle rules mandating that automatic headlamps on new two-wheelers operate exclusively in passing beam (low beam mode) starting April.

This initiative seeks to decrease glare and enhance visibility for other drivers on the road.

In a draft notification, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) stated, "In the principal rules...provided further that, on and after 1st April 2028, the automatic head lamp on operation shall operate in passing beam only," it said.


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Currently, the Automatic Headlamp On (AHO) system can function on either high or low beam, contingent on the vehicle's manual setting.

Under the draft notification, the proposed regulation requires the headlamp to default to low beam whenever the automatic system is engaged.

The draft notification also outlines reductions in the maximum allowable light intensity for high-intensity headlamps. The limit for two-wheelers drops from 1.5 lakh candela or cd (the official base unit of luminous intensity) down to 1 lakh cd. For four-wheelers (cars), the maximum permissible intensity is lowered from 2.25 lakh cd to 1.5 lakh cd.

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A senior highways ministry official noted that these steps are designed to lessen the danger of night-time crashes across the country.