Safety first

Students speak out on ensuring safety in public transport.

Reassuring Presence: Steps have to be taken to ensure safety in public spaces

In the wake of the recent incident involving a cab driver in the national capital, the issue of safety in public transport in the country has once again come to the fore. Students from many colleges react to the issue and share their experiences while travelling in cabs. What is interesting to note here is that the demand for lady cab drivers, police patrolling and the implementation of advanced GPS tracking systems is gaining consensus.

Nikitha Brunth Sundar, Third Year, MSAJ Academy of Architecture, Chennai

For safety, women prefer cabs to auto-rickshaws.

So, it is appalling to hear of incidents of rape involving cab drivers. The number of women drivers should be increased.

That would give women a sense of security even while travelling during late hours and through deserted areas.

Devi Raj V., Third Year, B.A. English, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai

Despite there being an advanced public transport system today, there is a need for reliable, comfortable and, more importantly, safe transport options.

The rise in assaults on women travelling alone is increasing and there is an urgent need for solutions which would enable them to travel without that nagging sense of concern. A mobile app for already established cab services can be developed, and any new cab service initiated through the apps should be regulated.

Fauzia, Final Year, Electronic Engineering, Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai

It is extremely sad when one takes a cab and meets with an untoward incident. Matters cannot be left as they are. Some concrete steps need to be taken to ensure safety. Even though GPS tracking system is expensive to implement, it is a way by which safety can be ensured. Helpline and control room numbers must be available in the cabs.

Hrishikesh A Menon, Mechanical Engineering, Amrita Engineering College, Coimbatore

There should be a system of mandatory police verification of drivers enrolled with various cab services in order to avert unwarranted incidents. With GPS, operators can try to keep a track of the whereabouts of a particular cab.