State College Students Win PennDOT Regional Innovations Challenge

This story originally appeared in The Centre County Gazette.

Two students from State College Area School District have been named winners in the PennDOT Innovations Challenge. This year’s competition had students focus on a cost-effective, innovative solution that can help PennDOT more effectively increase motorist awareness for seat belt safety. The challenge is judged on five criteria: effectiveness, community benefit, cost-effectiveness, innovation and presentation.

Kali Nicolas and Maya Toyokawa earned top honors in District 2, which includes nine counties in north-central Pennsylvania. Under teacher Bridget Ciolkosz, the students developed a modern solution to address a persistent safety issue: encouraging seat belt use among drivers and passengers.

“More than 90% of the unbelted travelers who died in crashes on our roads last year could have been saved by seat belts,” PennDOT secretary Mike Carroll said in a statement.

“In a crash, a seat belt can mean the difference between life and death. We need to reach our drivers and riders with that message.”

The current observed seat belt rate for front-seat occupants in Pennsylvania is just over 87%.

To help save lives and encourage drivers to use their seat belts, Nicolas and Toyokawa developed a concept for a mobile app called, “Belt Buddy.” The app would determine if a driver or passenger has buckled up by listening for the seat belt chimes. The application also has a tracking system for rewards and comes with the ability to share “streaks” with friends to help encourage seat belt use.

On average, more than 350 driver fatalities occur each year on Pennsylvania roadways due to drivers and passengers not wearing their seat belts. Despite PennDOT’s combination of behavioral safety programs and infrastructure improvements, unbelted crashes remain a significant concern.

The Innovations Challenge is part of the Shapiro Administration’s wider focus on fostering student involvement throughout Pennsylvania to get students involved with problem-solving skills concerning vehicle safety while also promoting interest in transportation careers.

As regional winners, Nicolas and Toyokawa will advance to the statewide finals, where they will present their proposal to Secretary Carroll and a panel of judges. The state champion will receive a $6,000 award, funded by several transportation and engineering organizations, including the Transportation Policy and Education Foundation and the Intelligent Transportation Society of Pennsylvania. The winning idea will be considered for implementation by the Pennsylvania Highway Safety Office.

For more information about the Innovations Challenge, visit the PennDOT website at penndot.pa.gov.