Experts attending the Two day National conference on 'Safer and Convenient Taxi Operations in India' organised by Institute of Road Traffic Education (IRTE), in partnership with Union Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, have stressed on the need of use of extensive technology and empowering passengers as best solution for safe, secure and accessible public transport especially for women passenger safety in the capital.
'Making installing of dash board camera's in public transport , disabling of child locks in back seats of cabs, panic button at back seat, use of voice enabled APPs, mechanical training to drivers, through knowledge of topography of area ,clean well maintained vehicles and provision of portable ramp for disabled were some of the recommendations made by experts attending the conference which concluded on Tuesday.
"The code for taxi and TSR drivers should stress more on their unruly predatory behaviour; most of them misbehave with passengers and park cabs in bus lanes. Th new Motor Vehicle Act on anvil help taming of these public transport drivers in a big way "said Garima Bhatnagar, Joint CP Traffic, Delhi Police, while speaking on the occasion
Apart from Bhatnagar, eminent Speakers at the two day conference included Sanjay Beniwal, Special Commissioner of Police, Women Safety, Airport and Modernisation, Trevor Wedge, Former Chief, Driver Standards Agency.
"Post Nirbhaya incident most of the women in Capital feel insecure using public transport especially in the late hours. Even the metro rail has become too over crowded forcing people to use private vehicles and public transport .The main aim of QR code which will be monitored at a control room is to improve security for women using public transportation including cabs during late hours" said Sanjay Beniwal,
Special Commissioner of Police, Women safety, Airport and
modernisation,
" Taxi drivers are expected to be professional in their approach to the industry and to drive safely and defensively in all weather and traffic conditions. Clean and presentable driver and vehicle, Good knowledge of local routes, major and tourist destinations. It is in the interest of owners and operators to provide professional training for all drivers to ensure a high quality of service is provided to all customers. "Said Dr Rohit Baluja, Director, IRTE.