GPS Enabled Cell Phones Tracking Student Transportation
Technology Aids Students
Tracking with GPS Enabled Cell Phones
In Columbia, Missouri, students at Missouri University have a volunteer organization called Stripes. This organization provides free rides to students on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Why is this important? Students who go to bars and drink have an avenue to get home without endangering lives on the road through impaired driving. Existing university programs are aimed at discouraging under-aged drinking but this one merely offers a way to safely arrive home without making judgments about the drinking activities.
Stripes is supplying drivers with GPS enabled cell phones and using a common vehicle tracking system with a dispatcher who can track each vehicle through the driver’s cell phone.
The system has examined for about a year because of its ability to increase safety and accountability for both the driver and patrons. Stripes is negotiating the cost with one of the major cell phone carriers to implement the program fully.
What is missing?
GPS enabled cell phones have inherent problems as tracking devices. They are subject to being lost, declining battery life and other anomalies. From a reliability stand point, they have a higher risk factor than do dedicated devices.
Actual GPS Tracking devices that could be attached to vehicles that are used in the program would be a better choice because they are dedicated to one task and are more reliable.
GPS enabled cell phones do not have as close of a tracking accuracy as do GPS Tracking devices.
While the effort to provide free transportation to students during hours at which they are most vulnerable is a great program, the technology that is used to guide the program should be up to the task of being as effective as possible.
Privacy Concerns
If a GPS enabled cell phone is used for this purpose, what prevents them from being tracked all of the time in a stalking nature? This question has not been addressed but it brings up a genuine concern for student safety and security.
This is another reason why separate and dedicated GPS Tracking devices should be implemented for this program. There are already enough situations that can place students at risk.
The effort by the student organization is valiant and they should be commended for tackling a difficult subject, but making sure that the right technology is in place for the right purpose should be paramount to them. Doing so will help them avoid other problems also.
Tags: free transportation, GPS Enabled Cell Phones, GPS Tracking, privacy concerns, tracking accuracy, tracking devices, tracking phones, Tracking Student, Vehicle Tracking
No related posts.
