TAC looks to digital entrepreneurs for road trauma help

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18 Dec 2014

A world-first project will see the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) work with some of Australia's brightest digital minds to help solve a road safety problem plaguing young Victorian drivers.

In February next year the TAC is partnering with Pause Fest – Australia's biggest digital innovation festival – to run a one-day hackathon which will see entrepreneurs, creative directors and technology experts come together to dissect a specific road safety issue.

The hackathon, titled Pause the Road Toll, will call on participants to listen to a road safety brief and brainstorm technology-based ideas that could contribute to a reduction in youth road crashes.

The winning idea will be awarded $75,000 worth of prizes, including $5000 cash and a $70,000 incubation fund to help further develop their idea.

The event will take place on Friday, 13 February at ACMI studios in Melbourne.

TAC chief executive officer Janet Dore said it was the first time the TAC had publicly called on the digital and entrepreneurial sector to help solve a road safety problem.

"This hackathon at Pause Fest represents a new-way of thinking for the TAC," Ms Dore said.

Ms Dore said that while the TAC would continue running behavior-change campaigns, it was important they continued to trial innovative projects.

"We know that for some people, particularly the younger generation, technological interference or assistance might be the best option to encourage them to stay focused on driving.

"Research tells us that young people tend to want to do more than just drive when they're in their car and that focusing on one task – such as driving – is mentally very hard for them.

"We need to come up with ways to address those issues."

Pause Fest founder George Hedon said the live crowd-sourcing event presented the perfect opportunity for experts and enthusiasts across a range of fields to gather and exchange ideas.

"Pause the Road Toll will go further than any community consultation has ever gone before, and with 200 fresh eyes looking at the same issue, we're sure to see some ingenious ideas come from the workshop," Mr Hedon said.

More details about the topic that will be addressed at the hackathon will be available on the day.

The hackathon is open to anyone but is strictly limited to the first 100 people to register via www.pausetheroadtoll.eventbrite.com.au.

A panel of expert judges will short-list three ideas presented by hackathon participants on the day and announce the overall winning idea three days later on the final day of Pausefest (15 February).

Sixty three people aged 18-29 have died on Victorian roads this year*, eleven more than last year.

For more information, visit www.pausefest.melbourne.

*Data from 1 January – 16 December, 2014 compared to the same period in 2013

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