ADAS Regulations: Safety is Now a Legal Responsibility for Commercial Vehicles
- Marketing Starkenn
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
Table of Contents
Introduction: From Recommendation to Regulation
For a long time in India, road safety technology was often treated as a luxury. Features like automatic braking or lane warnings were nice extras, not essentials.
From 2026, that mindset changes. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)Â has announced that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) will soon be mandatory.
For buses, trucks, and other large passenger vehicles, these safety features will soon be the law.
This is not only a milestone in technology adoption. It represents a cultural and legal shift: safety is now a responsibility, not a privilege.
What the New ADAS Regulations Need in Vehicles
The new rules under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) come with clear deadlines.
From April 1, 2026 → All new buses, trucks, and passenger vehicles with more than eight seats must have:
Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS)
Driver Drowsiness & Attention Warning (DDAWS)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
October 1, 2026 → The existing models must also get fitted with these systems to run.
Additionally, larger trucks and buses also should have these systems:
Blind Spot Information Systems
Vehicle Stability Functions
Endurance Braking Systems
Why These Regulations Matter
India reports over 480,000 road accidents every year, resulting in ~180,000 fatalities. The government’s stated aim is to halve these figures by 2030.
India is now making ADAS Regulations compulsory, like other countries have already done.
Automatic braking (AEBS) and lane warning (LDWS) are already common in global commercial vehicles.
In India, the need is bigger. Highways are crowded, traffic is unpredictable, and truck drivers face long, tiring journeys.. That makes these safety systems essential.
From Safety Feature to Legal Duty
Until now, ADAS in India has been a value addition. The 2026 deadline changes that narrative.
Non-compliance will mean no certification for new or existing models.
Liability is shifting from optional adoption to legal enforcement. This puts the responsibility on OEMs and ADAS manufacturers.
Fleet operators, too, will have to align or risk operational and financial penalties.
Safety is no longer a differentiator; it’s the minimum legal requirement.
The Role of ADAS Manufacturers
Compliance isn’t about meeting deadlines. It depends on ADAS manufacturers, who must:
Build systems that work on India’s roads — dusty highways, poor signage, and mixed traffic..
Support OEMs in integrating these features into existing platforms.
Deliver cost-effective systems that balance affordability with reliability.
Partner with regulatory bodies and testing facilities to validate performance under real-world conditions.
Challenges on the Road to Compliance
The regulations are ambitious, but they don’t come without hurdles:
Infrastructure readiness → Lane markings and road signage remain inconsistent in many regions.
Supply chain scaling → Manufacturers must localize semiconductors, sensors, and AI-powered modules.
Awareness and training → Drivers and fleet operators need education & training to use ADAS.
Each challenge also brings an opportunity. For Indian ADAS manufacturers, this means a chance to innovate for scale, resilience, & affordability.
Conclusion: Compliance as the New Normal
The ADAS Regulations mark a turning point in India’s mobility story. What used to be optional will soon be mandatory. What was once a choice is now a legal duty.
For OEMs, fleet operators, and ADAS manufacturers, compliance means more than ticking boxes. It is about improving road safety in the country on an urgent basis.
Insights from India’s ADAS Ecosystem
India’s ADAS industry is growing fast. With many Indian companies and also global companies coming in to shape the Industry.
Starkenn Technologies is one of them. It designs systems for real Indian conditions like sudden overtaking and driver fatigue. It also works with ARAI to test and check its products, so they are safe and meet the rules.
This shows that ADAS Regulations are not only about following the law. They are also helping make India’s roads safer and smarter.