01. Introduction
VMates respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information of students, parents, drivers, security personnel, administrators, and other authorized users. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and safeguard your data across all VMates applications and portals.
02. Information We Collect
We collect information necessary to operate a secure school transportation network. This includes:
Personal Identifiers: Names, contact details, email addresses, and assigned user roles.
Student & Trip Information: Student profiles, school transport assignments, attendance records, boarding/alighting logs, and trip history.
Location Data: Real-time GPS location data from driver devices to enable live bus tracking and route updates.
Verification & Safety Logs: Vehicle details, QR/NFC scan records, gate check-in logs, visitor logs, and incident reports.
Technical & Device Information: IP addresses, device models, operating system versions, and application log data.
03. How We Use Your Information
VMates uses collected data exclusively for transportation management and school safety operations, including:
- • Operating live trip tracking and route optimization.
- • Verifying authorized pick-ups, drop-offs, and school gate entries.
- • Sending automated notifications regarding arrival times, delays, and emergencies.
- • Maintaining accurate student attendance and incident records.
- • Improving application performance, system security, and user experience.
04. Role-Based Data Access & Sharing
Access to personal data is strictly restricted based on user role permissions:
Parents: Access only their child's live location, trip details, incident logs, and attendance logs.
Drivers: Access assigned routes, stop schedules, and relevant student boarding lists.
Security Personnel: Access gate verification tools, visitor logs, and pickup authorization details.
Administrators: Access fleet-wide operational data, incident reports, and system settings.
We do not sell personal information to third parties or use data for advertising. Data may be shared with partner schools, authorized transport providers, technology infrastructure vendors, or legal/emergency authorities when required for safety operations.
05. Device Permissions
To deliver core safety functionality, VMates may request the following device permissions:
Location, Including Background Location: Required for driver devices to provide continuous live tracking even when the app is minimized.
Camera & Scanner: Required for reading QR codes, scanning student/visitor passes, or attaching images to incident reports.
Notifications: Required to deliver real-time trip alerts, security notices, and emergency broadcasts.
NFC: Required for contactless student and security badge verification.
Users may manage permissions in their mobile device settings, though disabling certain permissions will limit application features.
06. Data Retention
We retain your information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or comply with legal obligations. Transportation logs and attendance records are retained according to the operational agreement with the school.
07. Your Rights & Account Deletion
You have the right to:
- • Access the personal data we hold about you.
- • Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete data.
- • Request deletion of your account and associated personal data.
- • Opt out of optional data collection by managing your device settings.
Because VMates user accounts are managed in coordination with participating schools and transport authorities, account and data deletion cannot be processed directly within the mobile application. All deletion requests must be requested via the school's transport administration team.
08. Children's Privacy
VMates processes student data solely to provide safe school transportation services. We do not directly contract with children under 13. Student information is onboarded directly by authorized educational institutions or verified parents/guardians. We do not knowingly collect information from children without proper school or parental consent.
09. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be reflected here, and the updated policy will indicate the effective date. Continued use of the app after changes signifies your acceptance of the updated policy.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at: