To improve the safety of women and children, the transport department has set a one-year deadline for the installation of tracking devices with emergency panic buttons in all public service and goods vehicles with national permits in Bengaluru. But what is this tracking device, and how does it work? Keep reading to know!
Bengaluru Public Service Vehicles To Install Tracking Devices With Panic Button
According to the November 23 letter, the new rules will take effect on December 1, 2023, and car owners will have until November 30, 2024, to install tracking devices that have emergency buttons.
According to reports, car owners can purchase these devices for ₹7,599 (excluding GST) from certified manufacturers. Thirteen manufacturers have been selected by the agency to provide these gadgets to the state.
Bus and taxi rides will be much safer once the emergency warning system and vehicle location tracking are completely operational. The notification states that failure on the part of the owners to install the designated devices with panic buttons will result in Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) refusing to renew fitness certificates for public service vehicles. (As per Times Now)
A System Introduced Under Nirbhaya Fund
Approximately 3,300 commercial vehicles, including taxis, buses, cabs, ambulances, maxi cabs, omnibuses, school buses, cash vans, and freight carriers, will be live-tracked from the state-of-the-art control room set up at the State Transport Authority (STA).
This will allow STA to monitor several driving factors, such as position, velocity, engine health, and adherence to traffic regulations.
The system was introduced in accordance with directives provided by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways under the Nirbhaya Fund, with the aim of promoting the safe mobility of women.
Vehicle location tracking devices (VLTD) and panic buttons registered with the STA are required for all public buses, taxi cabs, school and college buses, corporate office taxis, national permit trucks, and other types of vehicles used in the project. Certificates for license renewal, vehicle registration, and fitness have been connected to the installation of these devices. (As per The Times Of India)
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How Does It Function?
When the emergency alert system and vehicle location tracking are fully functional, rides in taxis and buses will be substantially safer.
The device’s primary characteristic is its connection to the 112 emergency response support system. The panic button sends out a signal to 112. This allows the person in distress to notify the authorities whenever they hit it. The STA is notified if any driver attempts to tamper with the device.
A large screen set up in the control room allows for the monitoring of vehicles being driven anywhere in the nation. The movement history of the vehicle can also be monitored. A notification displays on the screen if a car is speeding. The car may be immediately challaned by STA in such a circumstance.
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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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