The Indian transportation scenario is such that women have a tough time when it comes to their safety. With rampant cases of violation of women’s safety hurtling down the country, it is a challenge we have to reckon with. Whether they travel by public transport, or drive their own vehicle, the problems they face cease to come to an end. In this article, however, we focus on women drivers, and how a vehicle tracking system for women who drive can be the solution to their everyday safety issues.
After talking to a multitude of female drivers and analysing the problem extensively, we were able to narrow down to four segments that pose as problems for them. Here, we will talk about these roadblocks that hinder women’s security on the road. Moreover, this piece will also describe the ways in which a vehicle tracking system can aid in overcoming such obstacles. This will ensure that women have a safe and positive driving experience, and makes the roads a better place for everyone to commute on.
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Here are the challenges that we were able to identify:
Vehicle Malfunctions
A car is a machine, and every machine is bound to breakdown sometime or the other. In practice, this would be an issue for any driver. But the problem gets amplified when a car that is driven by a female driver breaks down, especially on a lonely stretch or during the night. On one hand, they have to deal with fixing the car. And while women are capable of handling manual troubleshooting for their vehicle, it is not an easy task to undertake when you are anxious about time being lost.
And on the flip side, lone female drivers are bound to experience fear when a breakdown happens on an isolated area. They would always be worried about falling victims to the hands of predators. There is a constant fear of being cornered since their only source to get away from such dangerous situations has malfunctioned. And it is because of this trepidation that women are vary of seeking help from passers-by.
This is where an installed vehicle tracking system can be useful. It allows you the ability to share your ride status with your loved ones, much like you do when you hail a cab service. And in the unfortunate event of you being in an area with limited to no cellular service, you can still alert your family, or the concerned authorities, about the car failure such that they can come to your rescue.
Also read: A Beginner’s Guide to GPS Trackers
Driving Behaviour
Ever since women started getting behind the wheel, they have been subject to constant criticism and stereotyping. Such abject prejudices are a serious bone of contention for the female population. From seemingly offhand remarks to blatant jokes – such casual sexism is evident in our society. However, it is essential to acknowledge that this kind of typecasting is unfounded – bad driving can be the issue with anyone, regardless of their gender.
There is also a problem of navigation through the road. Some people have the propensity to indulge in rash driving, which more often than not goes unchecked. They may be prone to over speeding and harsh braking. Moreover, when you are moving about in an area that is unfamiliar, following accurate directions can be an issue. The problem here is whether you are a “bad driver”, a rash driver, or have difficulty with navigation, all these factors compromise your security. It can be a threat to your life, to your tasks and to your vehicle. However, if your vehicle has a GPS vehicle tracker, then you need not worry about the aforementioned problems.
A vehicle tracker system keeps your driving patterns in check. It can intimate you in the event of rash driving. You can also look back on your driving patterns for a particular time range and can analyse your behaviour on the road. It can also be of great help to you in case of navigation. If your job profile entails moving about in cities or regions you are unfamiliar with, you can navigate with ease and precision with a vehicle tracking system.
Parking Problems
In our country, with population escalating at a rapid rate, the number of vehicles on the road has increased significantly. With this increase come parking problems. It is highly difficult to find a safe and appropriate spot to park your car. And going by an interesting insight, if your car is parked in an isolated parking lot, then locating the vehicle is another task to deal with.
Parking lots are generally quite lonesome, and are actually the breeding ground for maximum number of unsafe incidences. The larger the parking area is, the more it is sparsely surveilled. Apart from that, it is not uncommon for people to lose their way and forget the exact location where they had parked their car just a few hours ago. This is due to the fact that the aisles in the lot look quite identical, and some of them do not even have any segregation or demarcation.
However, the safety of your car and yourself is well taken care of by a vehicle tracking system. You can effectively locate your car, and would not have to spend unnecessary time in precarious parking lots.
Car Theft
Carjacking is not an uncommon occurrence. The more expensive your car, the more it is prone to theft. Vehicle theft in India is at an all-time high. The cars are either stolen for personal use, or for illegal sale of its components. Moreover, as things stand, cars owned and driven by women are seen as easy targets. According to experts, more than 100 cars were lifted in 2018. A 12.6% increase has been noted in vehicle theft incidences since 2013. Misuse of porous international borders can be the factor that amplified theft. The stolen vehicles are taken to Nepal, Bangladesh and even Myanmar markets, and then broken down to sell the internal parts.
It is obvious that with such statistics, one has to be supremely careful about their cars. The government is working hard to curb such incidences, but they seem to be inevitable for now. A lady we spoke with had a terrifying story to tell. She said, “I would take my car every day to work. I had to park it in the company’s parking ground opposite to the office building. Little did I know that my movements, and my timings, were being monitored by the groundskeeper. He would log on when I would arrive, and when I would leave. Ultimately, when he saw a definite pattern, he decide to strike and stole my vehicle. I haven’t been able to recover it, and he is absconding.”
Such tales show a chilling truth: when the thief is aware about your movements, he can not only steal your car, but can also compromise your security. Circumstances like this make you vulnerable and can reveal your residence and other details to the thief. Therefore, it is important that you get a vehicle tracking system as soon as possible. With remote locking/unlocking, your car would not start without your consent. Also, you can get triggers when someone tries to break open your vehicle. Thus, a vehicle tracking system lets you stay alert. Apart from that, if your vehicle does end up getting stolen, you can still track the location. This will help you in locating and recovering your asset.
Also read: How To Save The Environment with a Vehicle Tracking System