New Delhi: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has proposed making acoustic vehicle alerting systems (AVAS) mandatory for all electric cars, buses, and trucks with effect from October 1, 2027, keeping road safety in mind. The ministry, in a draft notification, said that all new models of electric passenger and goods vehicles manufactured after October 2026 must be equipped with AVAS.
It is a safety feature in EVs to emit an artificial sound to alert pedestrians and other road users about their presence. “Provided also that, on and after 1st October 2026 in the case of new models and 1st October 2027 in the case of existing models, electrified vehicles of categories M and N shall be fitted with AVAS meeting requirements with regard to audibility as specified in AIS-173, as amended from time to time,” the notification said.
EV is a threat to Indian roads
If we talk about India, the national capital is affected by the EV vehicle, specifically that vehicle is the E-Rickshaw. The number of e-rickshaws in Delhi is growing on a daily basis, which causes traffic jams or road congestion problems. However, it proves helpful in terms of passenger carts, which help people to travel from one stop to another and are majorly used to travel from specific locations to metro stations.
Even though it has some flaws, it does not have a proper brake or safety included. Further, it doesn’t have any sound that can alert the person on the way to step aside. The E-rickshaws are also careless. Between January and September 15 this year, 108 accidents were reported, resulting in 24 deaths and 100 injuries. In comparison, the total fatalities from e-rickshaw accidents in 2024 were 20.
Inputs from Ahsan Khan