New Delhi, May 18 -- Youngsters riding bikes at high speed without hands on the handlebars and performing stunts have long been a common sight in India, raising serious safety concerns for both riders and other motorists and even pedestrians. This could soon change. The government is planning a three-layer "hands-free" safety system for two-wheelers, requiring manufacturers to install technology that can detect whether riders have both hands on the handlebars and step in if they do not, amid rising road accidents in the country. According to an internal draft of the proposal, reviewed by Mint, the planned safety standards would require bikes and scooters to prevent ignition without both hands on the grip, issue audio and visual alerts if hands are removed while riding, and gradually slow down the vehicle in such cases. The introduction of new standards will lead to additional costs for automakers, which are typically passed on to consumers, with the proposed measures expected to increase prices by Rs.800-1,000 per unit for installing sensors on handlebars, at least two industry executives said. The move marks a fresh push by the Centre to tighten two-wheeler safety norms even as its attempt to mandate anti-lock braking systems (ABS) across all categories of two-wheelers irrespective of engine capacity remains stuck amid industry resistance and cost concerns. Mint first reported in July last year that the Centre had begun working on a plan to curb hands-off driving in two-wheelers. "There have been deliberations with the government on this where we have discussed a range of features that can be introduced on two-wheelers. The Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) has prepared a set of regulations and test procedures to crack down on people removing hands while driving," the senior executive cited above said on the condition of anonymity. "Any price increase could have an adverse impact on demand, especially when coupled with an increase in fuel prices. However, regulations that do not lead to an adverse sticker shock could see a lower impact on demand," said Ashim Sharma, senior partner and business unit head at Nomura Research Institute (NRI) Consulting and Solutions, India. Consultations between the government and automobile manufacturers in 2025 on increasing road safety involved discussions about whether the industry could introduce features on vehicles to reduce accidents, at a time when the government had indicated its view to mandate the use of ABS, Mint reported in July 2025. AISC works under the aegis of the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH)....