Toyota Kirloskar Motor concludes 24-Hour Hackathon to promote road safety

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) successfully concluded the 24 hours Toyota Hackathon, held at the RV Institute of Technology and Management, Bangalore, as part of the Road Safety Month (18th Jan – 17th Feb 2024). The event aimed to instill 'Road Safety Sense' and promote 'Positive Behavioral Change' in youths and the community. TKM, known for its commitment to education and road safety as part of its CSR initiatives, engaged students from various private and government schools and colleges in Bangalore.

The Hackathon provided a platform for students to showcase creativity, innovation, and prototype development of practical digital solutions to enhance road safety. The initiative aligns with TKM's vision of 'Zero Road Fatalities' and empowers young minds to develop actionable road safety solutions.

The road safety challenges in India, characterised by a high number of annual accidents, especially involving young adults, emphasise the significance of proactive measures. The Toyota Hackathon, initiated in 2018, serves as a catalyst to include road safety in school and college curriculums, encouraging children to become critical thinkers and develop solutions for modern-day road safety challenges. TKM's focus is on unlocking the hidden talents of young minds and empowering them to contribute significantly to road safety. The program encourages students to become 'Change Agents,' playing a crucial role in bringing about positive behavioral change in the community. The Toyota Hackathon covers a broad spectrum of road safety challenges, such as awareness and education, community engagement, school zone safety, road infrastructure and pollution, IoT/ICT in road safety, traffic easement, and making roads inclusive.

During the academic year 2023-24, 62 students from 31 teams participated in the Toyota Hackathon. The program involved three phases: students submitted a 200-word concept note, followed by a one-day boot camp in Bangalore, and finally, a 24-hour onsite Hackathon where technical mentorship was provided by experts for prototype development. The jury, including representatives from various organisations, evaluated the solutions. The top three winning teams were from Delhi Public School (Bangalore), and consolation prize winners included Soundarya Central School and Podar International School, both from Bangalore. The event received appreciation from dignitaries such as H C Balakrishna, MLA Magadi; Sharath Bache Gowda, Chairman - KEONICS, and J. Purushotham, Additional Commissioner for Transport & Director - Road Safety Cell.

Sudeep S. Dalvi, Chief Communication Officer and Senior Vice President & Director at TKM, expressed Toyota's commitment to road safety and its focus on growing in tandem with society. The Toyota Hackathon stands as an extension of Toyota's road safety initiatives, aiming to provide a platform for school children to emerge as solution providers for road safety challenges. TKM plans to evaluate incubation support for the Toyota Hackathon finalists and explore prototype implementation possibilities to further promote road safety.