Manila piloting biometric bus driver monitoring
01 February, 2013
category: Biometrics
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the Philippines has started a pilot of the Bus Management and Dispatch System (BMDS) that will regulate the number of public utility buses (PUBs) in Edsa and monitor the bus drivers using biometric fingerprint scans.
The program will be implemented at the MMDA bus terminal at Fairview, Quezon City. Over this year, the MMDA plans to set up twelve more satellite stations throughout the metro area.
The system requires public utility buses drivers to sign in with their fingerprint before taking over their routes. It matches drivers in the driver’s databank that contains personal information of registered drivers, the company that employs him and the number of unsettled traffic violations he has. Drivers cannot have more than three pending traffic violations, or else they will not be allowed to drive.
The MMDA hopes this new system will help cut the number of public utility buses on the road at any given time. Each terminal sends out public utility buses every 10 minutes during peak hours and 15 minutes during non-peak hours.