The Central Government has notified the Central Motor Vehicles (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2020 with effect from 20th July, 2020. These Amendment Rules are intended to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and were made upon consideration of objections and suggestions received from the general public and from all persons who were likely to be affected by the proposed Rules.
The following are the amendments introduced by these Rules:
In respect of size and ply rating of tyres, the Rules now additionally provide that vehicle categories MI (a motor vehicle used for the carriage of passengers and their luggage and comprising no more than eight seats in addition to the driver’s seat;) up to a maximum mass of 3.5 tonnes and N-1 manufactured (i.e. a motor vehicle used for the carriage of goods and having a maximum mass not exceeding 3.5 tonnes) should confirm with Automative Industry Standards- 154 (AIS- 154).
AIS 154 deals comprehensively with the Type Approval Requirements for Vehicles with regard to their Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
Further, this amendment is only applicable to those vehicles manufactured after 1st October, 2020 and fitted with TMPS. The AIS-154 will be applicable until the corresponding Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications are notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016.
Furthermore, vehicles fitted with TPMS approved in AIS 110 (Automotive Vehicles Temporary-Use Spare Wheel / Tyres and Run-Flat Tyres) are deemed to comply with the requirements of AIS 154.
The amendment has also brought changes to provisions relating to safety glass. It now allows for the inclusion of safety glazing as an option to safety glass, however, the percentage of visual transmission of light for the front and rear windows (70 per cent) and side windows (50 per cent) will remain the same for the safety glass or the glass with safety glazing.
The amended rules also have provided that manufacturers of all motorcycles allowing for pillion riders should provide for pillion handholds on the side of the motorcycle or behind the driver seat, footrests on both sides and a protective device covering at least half of the rear wheel.
Footrest, stand and external projection requirements of every motorcycle manufactured on or after 1st January, 2020 must comply with AIS 148: 2018 (Automotive Vehicles – Requirements of Footrests for Two-wheeled Motor Vehicles), AIS 146:2018 (Requirements applying to Stands fitted in two-wheeled motor vehicles ) and AIS 147:2018 (External Projection requirements for Two-Wheeled Motor Vehicles) respectively.
The amendment also provides that motorcycles fitted with lightweight containers may also allow for pillion riders in addition to meeting specifications relating to dimensions and weight.
Also, it introduces a provision that for M1 category of vehicles fitted with tubeless tyres and supplied with a tyre repair kit as a standard item, a ready to use or a temporary use spare wheel is not required.
