The New Zealand Transport Agency is hosting a hackathon to generate hi-tech ideas that could eventually save lives on the road.
The agency describes the event, taking place in Auckland between March 16 and 18, as a technology-driven brainstorming speed date that can help solve road safety problems.
“We’ll have 120 people coming together in teams for 48 hours to come up with creative new ideas to help prevent needless deaths and serious injuries on our roads,” NZTA safety and environment director Harry Wilson says.
“We don’t know what we’ll get and we’re open to all ideas, but we’re looking for problem solving with a clear focus on the outcome – preventing crashes and saving lives.”
The hackathon’s theme is “Save One More Life” after 379 people died on New Zealand roads last year.
“It’s about unleashing the potential of technology to reduce the road toll,” says Wilson.
“The idea is to bring together new technology and digital innovation and some free thinking and fresh perspectives. We’re looking for new ideas that can meaningfully impact road safety in New Zealand.”
The Safe System approach – which aims for a more forgiving road system that takes human fallibility and vulnerability into account – will be at front of mind for the teams.
The teams will focus on six challenge areas including encouraging people to wear seatbelts, driving too fast for the conditions, driving while impaired, making older vehicles and motorcycles safer and reducing crash risks on roads without median barriers.
Teams will also be able to focus on a problem of their own choosing.
“We’ve got developers, tech experts and people with engineering or transport backgrounds. We’ve got people with a personal motivation for improving road safety. All are passionate about being involved in finding solutions to an issue which affects communities and so many people.”
Participants will come together on the Friday night, divide into teams and spend Saturday and Sunday working on their product or service idea, with a judging panel awarding prizes to the top three concepts.
