Importance of SOS Button in public transport

According to the latest notification, under the governance of Priyank Bharti, joint secretary, ministry of road transport and highways; The ministry of road transport and highways has made it mandatory from January 1, 2019, for every public transport except auto rickshaws and E-rickshaws to be configured with vehicle location tracking (VLT) and emergency buttons also known as SOS Button. The main objective of introducing this guideline is women safety and passenger’s safety traveling via public transports at any point in time anywhere.

Why SOS is been required in public transport?

With the brutal mishap in 2012, this implication was made to make the public transport safe and secure for all sects of people and especially for women. SOS Button or emergency push signal is a kind of technology that transmits signals to the connected portals like - nearby police station or PCR, main contacts and social media handles with a location live tracking feature. In order to track, trace and monitor any misleading activity or emergency situation SOS button helps the victim to take an initial step for his/her protection.

How will it get validated?

With a central governing authority, the state transport department will check the fitment and functional status of the VLTs While carrying out the fitness test. Commercial vehicles are required to get the fitness certificate annually. The command and control center set up by the state or VLT manufactures will provide an interface to other agencies such as emergency response center, transport department or RTOs. These will also provide a live feed to the central data Vahan.

Benefits of implementing the SOS Button in transportation infrastructure:-

1.    Intimating the family members or friends – whenever you are traveling in a public transport and due to any case you find the situation uncomfortable, this SOS Button will help you to tip-off the information about your current love location to your family members, nearby police station and PCR. So, that a regular check on your path is been conducted and safety measures can be taken by the police authorities.

2.    Integration with social media and message technology – Panic buttons is been integrated with the social media handles like  - Facebook, Twitter and other accounts along with the messaging functionality which is been provided to the passengers. Now, the passengers can send their live locations to their friends and family via emails and messages if found in an emergency.

3.    Offline working – Some manufacturers like – VoxTrail Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd., manufacture “Made in India” product which will help the government, transportation authorities and passengers to make advancement in the SOS Technology by making the functionality work on offline mode also. Now, if there is a loss of data then, the SOS button starts working on GSM, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth functionalities which captures the signals from nearby devices and sends the notifications and alerts.

4.    Inculcating Peace of Mind- SOS button law on public transport will help the parents and family members to remain at peace will their children or daughters are traveling outside. They can now navigate and get informed about any changes in route or any panic situations.

5.    Warning to the Culprits – The Emergency button along with Vehicle live location tracker has now become a warning tool to the culprits who roam around with a frugal mindset. They will be governed under strict surveillance and the action against any misdeed made by them will be taken there and then.

Although the government has passed the bill we as citizens need to be a helping hand to the government in order to make this SOS Button implication a successful execution towards a change in safety standards of our society.