Exclusive! ARAI proposes mandatory ABS for two-wheelers above 125cc

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the research authority of the automotive industry under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, government of India, is in favour of bringing mandatory ABS (anti-lock braking system) on two-wheelers with engine displacements larger than 125cc. ARAI is currently devising this regulation, which will be later proposed to the Ministry before it gets a final nod by all concerned authorities. This regulation, as per the plan, may see implementation as soon as 2017.

In an exclusive interview to Autocar Professional, Rashmi Urdhwareshe, director, ARAI, said “The government is very keen on bringing ABS (Antilock Braking System) on two-wheelers now. While at the moment the ABS technology (for two-wheelers) is expensive, the Ministry feels that stability of the vehicle should be given more importance. That is one regulation that we are working on.”

ARAI, which is undergoing a transformation of being a well-established homologation service provider to a full-fledged research and development centre for the automotive industry, is fast boosting its capabilities, and is expanding its operations via its upcoming facility in Chakan. The organisation, which plans to commence its operations under passive safety laboratory (equipped with a full-fledged crash testing facility for passenger vehicles) at Chakan from April 2015, is planning to open up the same for the industry from June 2015.

However, for two-wheelers, ARAI does not have a dedicated test track of its own, and hence uses the test track at VRDE (Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, a lab belonging to DRDO), Ahmednagar. The said facility is currently being upgraded under NATRiP funding.

According to Urdhwareshe, the timeline for new regulations (mandatory ABS for two-wheelers above 125cc) is linked with facility readiness and industry preparedness. “Once that (test track at VRDE, Ahmednagar) is ready, the fitment of ABS on mandatory basis could be considered by the government from, say, 2017 onwards. This, as per the plan, would be made mandatory for the motorcycles and scooters with an engine displacement of more than 125cc,” she added.

It can be recalled that a recent research report by RASSI (Road Accident Sampling System India) had claimed that ABS fitments can prevent every third accident on a two-wheeler.