New Delhi, 03 August (H.S.):

The Central Government has proposed the phased mandatory implementation of a Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication system in motor vehicles to enhance road safety and reduce accidents across the country. To this end, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has issued a draft notification seeking public suggestions and objections on proposed amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways said on Monday that, under the proposal, the AIS-230 standard will apply from October 1, 2027, to newly manufactured Category L, M, and N vehicles equipped with a V2V communication system. From October 1, 2028, all newly manufactured Category L, M, and N vehicles will be required to be fitted with a V2V communication system compliant with the AIS-230 standard.

According to the ministry, the V2V communication system will enable nearby vehicles to exchange real-time information such as speed, position, direction, and acceleration. This will allow timely warnings to drivers or vehicle systems in situations involving sudden braking, potential forward collisions, unsafe lane changes, and the approach of emergency vehicles.

Unlike conventional safety systems, which primarily rely on onboard sensors and driver response, the V2V system will also provide information beyond the driver's direct line of sight. This will strengthen Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), accident prevention capabilities, connected mobility, and the development of future intelligent transportation systems.

The ministry stated that the AIS-230 standard covers radio performance, frequency stability, receiver sensitivity, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) compatibility, power supply requirements, electromagnetic compatibility, cybersecurity, and road safety performance standards. The standard has been developed for onboard units based on Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology operating in the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band.

Under the proposed framework, safety features such as Emergency Brake Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Wrong-Way Driving Alert, and Emergency Vehicle Warning will be introduced in a phased manner.

The ministry further noted that the Department of Telecommunications, through its notification dated June 10, 2026, exempted the use of the 5.875 GHz to 5.925 GHz frequency band from licensing requirements. It added that the task force constituted for the development and implementation of the V2V system had also recommended the use of the 5.9 GHz frequency band to improve road safety.

The ministry said the final notification will be issued after considering the suggestions and objections received within 30 days on the draft rules.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar