Uyir Road Safety Hackathon in Coimbatore on February 8, 9

Join 'Uyir Road Safety Hackathon 2025' to innovate road safety solutions and save lives in Coimbatore.

Participation and cooperation of the public in road safety initiatives are pivotal in saving human lives, Minister for Electricity, Prohibition and Excise V. Senthil Balaji said, after launching ‘Uyir Road Safety Hackathon 2025’ here on Wednesday.

The hackathon, which is jointly organised by the Coimbatore district administration, Coimbatore City Police and ‘Uyir’, a non-governmental organisation involved in road safety activities, will be held in two categories -- for students and professionals.

While participants can register for the event till December 29, the final presentations will be held at Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology in Coimbatore on February 8 and 9, 2025.

Lauding various efforts being taken by the authorities and Uyir to reduce accidents in Coimbatore, Mr. Balaji highlighted that no other city has taken up such initiatives to promote and enforce road safety.

Uyir’s Managing Trustee S. Rajasekaran said 7,000 to 9,000 lives are lost in road traffic accidents in Tamil Nadu every year, which could be compared to the mortality caused by the tsunami in 2004. Road safety awareness had increased in Coimbatore and the use of helmet by two-wheeler riders increased up to 90% on major roads in the city as per a survey.

District Collector Kranthi Kumar Pati said there were over 450 higher education institutions in Coimbatore and the hackathon was a good opportunity to come out with solutions for various challenges in road safety.

City Police Commissioner V Balakrishnan said accidents had reduced in Coimbatore and the hackathon was expected to generate quality solutions to achieve the aim ‘target zero’.