New Delhi, Jan. 1 -- India's two-wheeler market has just logged a record year, crossing 20 million units in sales, but the milestone comes with a fresh bout of regulatory uncertainty. Manufacturers are still awaiting a formal notification on the Centre's proposal to mandate anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on all two-wheelers below 125 cc from 1 January.

Even as the cost increase-wary industry pushes for a combined braking system (CBS) as an alternative, Mint explains why the government is pressing ahead with ABS and the safety trade-offs at the centre of the debate.

For one, India is the world's biggest two-wheeler market by sales. Its roads, however, have not proven to be the safest for riders. Data from the National Crime Records Bure...