Centre notifies 7th Amendment to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989

On, July 20, 2020, the Central Government, with the powers conferred to it by the virtue of Section 110 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, made the certain rules, in order to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (“M.V Rules”). These rules may be called the Central Motor Vehicles (Seventh Amendment) Rules, 2020 and unless specifically mentioned below, they shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

Following are some of the key Amendments in the M.V Rules:

1. Safety glass in the Motor Vehicles:

Sub-Rules (1) to (3A) of Rule 100 of M.V Rules, which provides for the requirement of safety glass in the motor vehicles, is substituted, to provide for the following:

(A) Material of the window glass

The windscreen and window glass of every motor vehicle (including agriculture tractor fitted with cabin, construction equipment vehicle fitted with cabin and combine harvester), shall be made of safety glass or safety glazing material:

Provided that in L5 category vehicles (i.e. three wheelers) and vehicles with hood and side coves, the window glass may be made of acrylic or plastic transparent sheet.

The definition and meaning are provided in the ‘Explanation’ section of the Rule, and it provides that–:

“Explanation: For the purposes of this rule,

(i) safety glass or safety glazing means the materials confirming to IS 2553 (Part 2) (Revision 1): 2019;

(ii) the windscreen and window glass of motor vehicle, the inner surface of which is at an angle more than thirty degrees to longitudinal axis of the vehicles, shall be deemed to face to the front.”

(B) Safety glass of the windscreen and the rear window:

The safety glass or safety glazing of the windscreen and rear window of every motor vehicle shall be so manufactured:

i. so as to provide not less than 70% visual transmission of light; and

ii. it shall conform to Indian Standards IS 2553 (Part 2) (Revision 1): 2019 (as amended from time to time).

(C) Safety glass of the side windows:

The safety glass or safety glazing used for side windows of every motor vehicle shall be manufactured in a way-:

(i) so as to provide not less than fifty percent visual transmission of light; and

(ii) it shall conform to Indian Standards IS 2553 (Part 2) (Revision 1): 2019 (as amended from time to time).

(D) Visual transmission of light:

The owner of every motor vehicle shall maintain the visual transmission of light through safety glass or safety glazing, in a manner, as specified above.

2. Safety devices in the Motor Cycle:

Rule 123, which provides for the safety devices in a motor cycle, is substituted with a new Rule 123, which provides for follows:

(A) Pillion Rider:

The manufacturer of every motor cycle which has a provision for a pillion rider, shall ensure the following safety devices during its manufacture, namely:–

i. a provision for pillion hand holds, on the side of the motor cycle or behind the driver seat, and it shall comply with the requirement specified in IS: 14495-1998;

ii. foot rests for the pillion rider on both sides of the motor cycle; and

iii. a protective device covering not less than half portion of the rear left wheel of the motorcycle, so as to prevent the clothes of the person sitting on the pillion entangled in the rear wheel.

(B) . Foot Rests

The footrests of every motorcycle manufactured on and from the January 01, 2020, shall comply with the requirements specified in AIS 148:2018, till the corresponding BIS specifications are notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016

(C) . Motor Cycle fitted with light weight container

The motorcycle fitted with a light weight container shall meet the following requirements, namely:–

i. the dimensions of the container shall not exceed 550 mm in length, 510 mm in width and 500 mm in height;

ii. the weight of the container, including its mounting and load carried therein, shall not exceed 30 kgs.;

iii. if the container is fitted on the pillion rider space, no pillion rider shall be allowed, provided that the weight of container including its mounting and load carried therein shall be within the permissible gross vehicle weight (in kg), specified by the manufacturer and also approved by the test agency;

iv. if the container is fitted behind the pillion rider space, pillion rider shall be allowed provided that the weight of the vehicle, passenger and container including its mounting and load carried therein shall be within the permissible gross vehicle weight (in kg), specified by the manufacturer and also approved by the test agency.

(D) . Stand Requirements

The motorcycle manufactured on and from the January 01, 2020, shall comply with the stand requirements as specified in AIS 146:2018, till the corresponding BIS specifications are notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016

(E) . External Projection Requirement

The motorcycle manufactured on and from January 01, 2020, shall comply with the external projection requirements specified in AIS 147:2018, till the corresponding BIS specifications are notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016