This invention relates to personal safety systems, and more particularly to personal safety systems when using public transport (such as buses, trains, metro trains, trams, vans, cars and so on). Accordingly the invention provides a configurable panic button in a vehicle, wherein a user can configure the panic button with a plurality of options remotely. Also, provided herein is a method and system of sending emergency alerts using a combination of long range communication networks (such as cellular communication network, internet and so on) and short range communication networks (such as Wi-Fi Direct, IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks, Bluetooth, ZigBee and so on) to multiple entities, including entities in the vicinity of the vehicle, on the user activating the panic button (either physically or remotely).