Iuze Mukube
The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) HTTP campus recently hosted the first-ever hackathon which saw 20 participants employ digital technologies to come up with innovative ideas to curb traffic accidents in Namibia.
The two-day marathon-type hackathon was made possible by Nust, the National Commission on Research Science and Technology, the University of Namibia, and the Special Interest Group Computer Human Interaction.
The prototypes focused on using technology that can be mechanised in cars to curb the issues that mostly cause traffic accidents and solutions focused on how to keep pedestrians safe, how to warn drowsy drivers, and on speeding drivers.
The competition saw five teams of five participants each who competed under the names Innova8ers, Road Arc Angels, TechWatch, SmartPed, and Smart Arrivals.
TechWatch scooped first prize, followed by Innova8ers, and Road Arc Angels in second and third places, respectively. The winning team members received N$2 500 each.
TechWatch team members told Youth Corner that they were nervous but very excited as they came up with an innovative idea, the Guardiandrive application, which focuses on rewarding drivers for following road traffic signs and warnings.
“We were so drained but worked so hard to come up with this idea which focuses on how we can make driving more enjoyable. We had a lot of challenges but thankfully we had guidance from experts in the competition, also we developed new skills and improved our capabilities in the competition,” they said.
Rikurora Karamata, a software developer at NCRST, told Youth Corner Namibia is one of the countries in Africa with the best roads but has the highest statistics in terms of traffic accidents, so the competition is dedicated to using smart digital technologies or Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce traffic accidents in
Namibia.
Attlee Gamundani, an associate professor at NCRST, commented: “We are faced with a divine problem where we are seeing a lot of road accidents in Namibia and abroad, and one of the solutions that we came up with is a hackathon, where selected applicants could brainstorm an idea of a prototype based on the theme that will eventually be developed into an actual product, used by either the driver or the general public”.
Gamundani further said they expect more from the winning team on improving the prototype and hopefully being implemented on Namibian roads.
Representatives from various institutions including the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, National Road Safety Council, Road Fund Administration, and lecturers from New Zealand witnessed the competition.
Meanwhile, NRSC head of research Bethino Mbirimujo stated that there are no statistics on whether road accidents are alcohol-related or not.
“Alcohol issues are not quantified in Namibia, as we are not sure if use is related to accidents, but 20 to 35% of crashes and fatalities have found either the driver or the pedestrian drunk on site,” he noted.
The statistics on traffic-related incidents are based on critical factors like type of vehicle, alcohol issues, speeding, seatbelts and other demographics such as distribution of pedestrians and pedestrian clothing, said Mbirimujo.
He added: “All factors are high, for example, a young woman aged 30 years down is more prone to accidents than an elderly person aged 35 upwards.”