A personal security system (PSS) for use by an operator of a vehicle. The vehicle includes communication logic to communicate with a central station via a communication channel. The personal security system comprises timing logic that operates to measure a predetermined time period in response to receiving an actuation signal. The timing logic outputs a completion signal at the end of the predetermined time period. The personal security system also comprises message logic coupled to the timing logic that operates to generate a distress message in response to receiving the completion signal. The distress message is transmitted to the central station by the communication logic using the communication channel.