New cars may get automatic emergency braking from 2030: What does it mean?

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed making Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) mandatory for all new car models from October 1, 2030, to help curb road accidents.

In a draft notification dated October 19, 2026, the ministry said that models already in production before the deadline would have to comply with the requirement from October 1, 2032.

Government tightens braking safety norms for trucks

The government has also introduced measures to improve the safety of medium and heavy-duty vehicles, with a focus on braking performance.


A revised braking standard for trucks is set to take effect from October 1, 2027.

Electronic stability control systems to be mandatory from 2027

Electronic stability control systems, conforming to AIS 162, will also be mandatory for trucks from October 1, 2027. These systems help improve vehicle stability, particularly when braking on curves.

What is Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS)?

AEBS automatically applies the brakes if the driver fails to respond to an emergency situation. The system is designed to help avoid a crash or reduce the impact of a collision.

The draft notification states that M1-category vehicles manufactured from the specified dates must be fitted with AEBS conforming to AIS-185, as amended from time to time.

When will the draft rules be considered?

The draft rules will be taken into consideration after 30 days from the date on which copies of the notification, as published in the Gazette of India, are made available to the public.


Recently, Nitin Gadkari said that the government is working to reduce road fatalities to zero and has also identified 100 districts with high accident rates for urgent intervention. The government aims to halve the number of road accidents and resultant deaths by 2030.

Addressing an event organised by ICICI Lombard, Gadkari said changing public behaviour and enforcing traffic laws remain the country's biggest challenges in improving road safety. "We are working to reduce road fatalities to zero. Authorities have also identified 100 districts with high accident rates and are targeting black spots for urgent intervention," the minister said.

The number of road accidents in India rose by 5.3 per cent to more than 5.13 lakh in 2025, with road crashes claiming the lives of 21 people every hour, according to government data. On average, 59 road accidents occurred every hour in the country.