Three B.Tech. students, Mr. Vijendra, Mr. S. Jaya Krishna Teja, Mr. Nikhil Sarika, of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Bengaluru Campus, under the guidance of Dr. Rakesh S. G., Associate Dean, Amrita School of Engineering, Bengaluru, and Nandi Vardhan H. R., Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, School of Engineering, Bengaluru, designed and developed a safety system in passenger cabs for women passengers.

The prototype consists of two buttons hooked into the existing central locking mechanism. A “Check Button” is provided to verify if the safety system is armed and if it is safe to travel. A “Panic Button” is provided to alarm the neighborhood at the time of distress. When the check button is pressed, the device checks if the driver has fastened his seat belt, the child lock is engaged, and if the circuit has been tampered with. If the seat belt is fastened, child lock is engaged and the circuit has not been tampered with, then a “SAFE to TRAVEL” signal is displayed. Otherwise, the passenger is cautioned that it is unsafe to travel. Should the driver behave in an unsafe manner, and the panic button is pressed, the driver’s seat belt is locked, the driver side door remains locked, all the passenger doors are unlocked, the hooter and blinkers are switched on to attract help. The possible victim can escape to safety. The system is robust in operation and is being extended to bring the vehicle to safely stop.