Officials in Gloucester Township announced they have equipped three busses with GPS vehicle tracking systems according to the Courier Post. They say the reason for installing them is to gather information to prevent accidents.

In the past 3 years the district says they have had 40 bus crashes. The global positioning systems allow them to see the exact speed and location of the buses at all times, and they believe the data will identify driving practices that typically cause crashes.

The GPS tracking systems are linked with its municipal police department. The security and awareness is an added value brought on by the trackers as well as a panic button the bus driver can push to report a problem to police and the school. If the panic button is pushed, it immediately sends an alert to school officials, police dispatch, and a police supervisor.

The town received funding for the devices from the state’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety. A representative of the state’s Division of Highway Traffic Safety said she would like to see other districts implement GPS vehicle tracking systems for the safety of children. The district plans to continue adding GPS technology to their other busses as well. Since the trackers have been installed, no crashes have occurred on the buses that are being tracked.

It’s apparent that safety is not the only thing to gain here. Some GPS companies, like Rocky Mountain Tracking, have developed advanced tracking software that will help with fuel economy and reduce operating costs. The software will even identify which vehicles are idling longer than others or which vehicles are being used during restricted hours and days.

In the recent years, the cost of this technology has dropped significantly making it more affordable for schools and businesses to purchase. It’s believed that by the year 2012, nearly all commercial vehicles will be equipped with vehicle tracking systems.