With the mandatory SOS button on apps like Pathao, InDrive, and Yango, passengers and drivers can immediately get police assistance in case of an emergency.
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The government has decided to make the 'SOS button' mandatory in ride-sharing apps within 30 days in the 100-point agenda released on Saturday evening. This button is a digital mechanism to immediately seek safety and assistance in an emergency.
Passengers or drivers can use it if they feel any danger or insecurity during the journey. It mainly works to alert the relevant agencies in times of crisis. The aim is to provide an alert to the police.
After the SOS button is included in apps like Pathao, InDrive, and Yango, as soon as it is pressed, the passenger's live location and vehicle details are directly sent to the police control room. In this process, the user's name and contact number are also provided to the police. This makes it easier for the police to immediately identify the scene of the incident and work on rescue. In some apps, when this button is pressed, the company's own security team is also notified. In some countries, passengers can even send their trip details to their trusted friends or family through the SOS button.
Large ride-sharing companies like Uber and DriveU have been using this feature in the global market for a long time. Uber included the SOS button in 2015 after major rape cases like Nirbhaya came to light in India. This system has been implemented in other countries to make travel safer and more reliable. In those countries, the app is directly linked to the police emergency number 112 or 100.
Its implementation is not technically complicated. GPS tracking and user data are already available in ride-sharing apps. This button can be easily added as an additional feature to existing apps. However, to make it effective, there must be strong digital coordination between the Nepal Police control room and the app operating company. The police system must have the ability to process the signals coming from the app immediately.
We have repeatedly heard complaints of abuse from some women using ride sharing. This button was made mandatory after incidents of drivers kidnapping passengers were heard in some countries, including the US. This system is considered important for controlling such sexual violence and other crimes on public transport.
