GPS Tracking

When traveling in a new place for the first time, many tourists opt to utilize the services of tour bus companies that provide a heightened level of insight in all aspects of the recreation and tourism sector (e.g. the best roads to navigate, the most popular tourist destinations, and unknown places of interest depending on the hobbies of each particular touring group).  In central Washington, many people around the nation flock to this western state’s scenic nature preserves, sporting events, and historic sites in the summertime, and rely on the safe and responsible driving behavior of tour bus operators to ensure a pleasurable experience.  Unfortunately, a group of tourists were fatally let down on Saturday when a bus travelling on Interstate 90 in central Washington rolled over, killing two passengers and injuring 21 others.  With the widespread applicability of GPS tracking technology in the tourist service sector, a bus tracking device could very well have prevented this tragedy from occurring.

The Washington State Patrol released a report shortly after the incident.  As the bus driver attempted to change lanes to avoid a disabled pickup truck on the right shoulder of the highway, he failed to notice a passenger car in his left blind spot.  At the last possible moment the driver realized his proximity to the car, and out of reflex both parties swerved to avoid a collision.  This instant high-velocity shift in momentum caused both vehicles to overturn and the bus actually ended up striking the stalled pickup truck.  Managers in charge of the bus tracking operations at the touring company have been intent on finding ways to eliminate this terrible incident from happening again, and utilizing the adaptive intuition of GPS tracking technology can provide a reliable solution.

There are many current projects underway that intend to incorporate current GPS tracking data transmissions obtained from cell towers, mobile devices, and automobiles in order to create what’s being dubbed an intelligent transportation system.  If this technology was used in the bus tracking operations of this touring company, the driver would have known about the location of the passenger car well before it was too late.  In addition to monitoring vehicle operations from individual vehicles on the road, bus tracking managers can communicate with drivers and set up notifications to provide unparalleled levels of insight into all road events.  With so many lives in their hands, bus drivers can’t afford to let incidents such as these continue, and by implementing a sound GPS tracking system into their bus tracking operations, tourism managers can ensure that tourists and drivers alike will stay safe on their journey.

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Privacy Debate Goes On and On

Protect Yourself, but Use to Your Advantage

Any time someone brings up the issue of privacy and security one of two reactions is almost always observed:  anger or apathy.  This polarizing topic has many up in arms these days because there are more ways to breach your privacy than at any other time in history.

GPS Tracking systems are also in the mix of these debates.  In fact, talking about the vulnerabilities of using GPS Tracking is a good thing.  You need to know that you are vulnerable and at what point you are being put at risk so that you can take measures to protect yourself.  Here’s what you should know about GPS’s dark side:

Here’s What You Should Know

GPS Enabled Cell Phones Make You Vulnerable.  When you turn on the GPS feature on your smartphone, you can be tracked.  This means that you need to be aware of the times when you need it and when you don’t and then turn it off.  Or, just face the prospect that someone could hack into your phone and monitor your location in real time.  Turn the feature off, and be sure to password protect your phone’s functions.

GPS Tracking of Your Vehicle Makes You Vulnerable.  Movies used to be the only place that we saw devices that were used to track a car’s movements.  That is no longer the case.  Devices can be attached to your car without your knowledge (it only requires two wires).  If you are in a legal dispute with someone, in a divorce for example, it would not be unheard of to have your car tracked by a spouse or ex-spouse for the purpose of collecting information that could be used against you.  Be extra aware if you are in these situations. (more…)