New Delhi, May 14 -- In a major push aimed at improving passenger safety and strengthening road safety enforcement, the Supreme Court of India has directed all states and Union Territories to strictly implement rules mandating GPS tracking systems and panic buttons in public service vehicles.

The order could have wide-ranging implications for taxis, app-based cabs, buses, auto-rickshaws and other commercial passenger vehicles operating across the country.

A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan observed that less than one per cent of transport vehicles currently have vehicle location tracking systems installed, calling the situation alarming.

The court directed authorities to strictly enforce Rule 125H of the Central Motor ...