We’re all aware of how terrible our road toll is in Australia. It’s never good, but it’s even worse around the holiday period – Easter and Christmas in particular.
So how can we fix it? How can we further educate people? Why is it that for a country so small in population – compared to many other countries that are far smaller in size – our road toll is so significant?
This week, the TAC is partnering with Pause Fest to run a one-day idea Hackathon. Entrepreneurs, creatives and technologists are coming together to dissect a road safety issue and find a solution. And there must surely be one.
Pause Fest is Australia’s premier digital event, aimed at supporting and showcasing the best in the creative and tech fields from across Australia and all over the world.
The Hackathon will call on participants to listen to a road safety brief on the issue and brainstorm technology-based ideas that could contribute to a reduction in road crashes. This isn’t about hacking code – it’s about conceptual ideas that use creative technology to solve a live road safety problem.
The winner – with the best idea – will be awarded $75,000 worth of prizes, including $5,000 cash and a $70,000 incubation fund to help further develop their idea.
The guys behind 99 Designs have been doing it for quite some time. They utilise the concept of crowdsourcing to give designers the opportunity to brand businesses logos. Designers submit competing designs in response to customer’s ideas and the winning designer is paid in cash for their work.
A couple of years ago, this crowdsourcing campaign saw Simon Griffiths sit on a toilet until $50,000 was raised for his toilet paper company, Who Gives A Crap. They use 50% of their profits to build toilets in the developing world.
Pause the Road Toll offers a unique opportunity for locals in Melbourne to connect, collaborate and, most importantly, launch an important project alongside global leaders and visionary brands.
We’ll be eagerly awaiting the final results – and ultimate concept idea – determining who wins. You too can stay tuned on Friday the 13th of February, by checking in with the website.
Good luck to all the innovators, entrepreneurs and creative thinkers – we need your ideas. There’s lives depending on it.
