Rear Parking Sensors Soon To Be Mandatory For All Vehicles

All passenger cars are mandatorily equipped with rear-view mirrors to detect other cars on the road but they’re inadequate when it comes to reversing the vehicle. The mirrors fail to detect objects or small children behind the vehicle when reversing. In order to reduce such risks, the government has announced that all new vehicles will be required to be equipped with rear parking sensors or reverse cameras as mandatory equipment.

Speaking on the concern, Abhay Damle, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said: “Although most cars come equipped with rear view mirrors which are adequate for detecting vehicles behind a car, but they are inadequate on for detecting small children or objects close to the ground, which fall in the car's blind spot. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will soon issue a notification to make rear-view sensors mandatory in all vehicles.”

During the World Roads Meet (WRM 2017) organised by International Road Federation (IRF), Damle also spoke about Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) or Combined Braking System (CBS) that will be compulsory for all two-wheelers by April 2019. With the alarming rate of accidents on highways due to speeding, the Road Ministry is working on the implementation of a speed warning system that will sound a warning beep at the speed of 80kmph and a continuous beep after crossing 90kmph. Damle also highlighted that airbags will be made mandatory for all vehicles soon.

Automated inspection and fitness certification test of all vehicles will be initiated from October 1, 2018, which will be carried out with minimal human intervention. Automated Driving Licence test is also expected to be implemented around the same time.

Damle spoke about the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill that will be submitted in the coming winter session of the parliament, under which provisions towards legal protection for Good Samaritans have been included. He also stated that a clause has been added by the government under which Good Samaritans who help accident victims will have the legal force of a statement. Should a statement be required, it need to be recorded in a single examination. Also, for any further information the judicial or law officer will have to go to his house to record the statement.

An International Road Federation’s four-day World Road Meeting (WRM 2017) will be hosted for the first time from November 14-17, which will have the presence of road safety, infrastructure and transport experts from across the world.