A RECENT newspaper report suggests commuters should not only worry about drivers who cannot ?drive? but also of felons who use driving as a cover for criminal activities.
With almost everyone using mobile phones nowadays, taking note of a taxi?s plate or body number and other identifying marks, as well as the telephone number/s of the operator, and sending the information to somebody is a precautionary measure every passenger should take.
Commuters may also want to avail of an existing Smart service, Safe Travel, that covers all modes of public transport.
It is designed primarily for Smart subscribers who have to travel regularly at night, like call center employees. Information on the service is available at http://www.personfinder.ph/personfinder/index.cfm?event=
Features. Other Smart location-based services may be accessed at www.person
finder.ph.
According to the website, Smart Safe Travel is ?a location-based value-added service for Smart users who ride the bus, drive or ride in a PUV, carpool or vanpool, etc.? Through the service, commuters can be monitored on real-time by relatives and/or friends when they are in transit.
?Safe Travel makes available several easy methods of informing loved ones that they are ?okay? or that they need assistance. More important, Safe Travel provides Smart subscribers with the means to inform their nominees that they are riding a PUV and need to be monitored."
?In particular Safe Travel is equipped with the following features:
1) Inform the system that subscriber is riding a PUV or bus;
2) Inform the system the name and body number of PUV or bus that subscriber has taken;
3) System will check with subscriber if he/she has arrived safely after one hour.?
The text keyword is RIDE, and the access code is 386. Of course, you get charged for this service (I think Smart mentioned P10) but the peace of mind it gives both commuter and his/her loved ones is priceless.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail lbolido@inquirer.com.ph.
