Skip to main content

Winners of AT&T traffic safety innovation challenge announced

The winners of AT&T's Connected Intersections Challenge, a technology challenge aimed at stimulating innovative solutions to improve traffic safety on New York City streets. Forty-five teams from 13 countries and 26 states submitted their apps and wearable devices ranging from smartphone sensors, phone-to-phone communications and natural user interfaces, among other technologies. The winners include: Tug, an app that alerts pedestrians as they are about to enter an intersection; an anti-sleep alarm
October 22, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
RSSThe winners of 1970 AT&T's Connected Intersections Challenge, a technology challenge aimed at stimulating innovative solutions to improve traffic safety on New York City streets.

Forty-five teams from 13 countries and 26 states submitted their apps and wearable devices ranging from smartphone sensors, phone-to-phone communications and natural user interfaces, among other technologies.

The winners include: Tug, an app that alerts pedestrians as they are about to enter an intersection; an anti-sleep alarm using a 1809 Samsung smartwatch and a smart phone to alert drivers when they are showing signs of drowsiness; RiderAlert, which scans for Bluetooth-enabled devices in traffic to alert drivers to the presence of cyclists and pedestrians; Drive Safely, an app that uses NFC technology to determine if a smartphone user is sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and sends an auto-reply message to incoming calls and texts while the vehicle is moving; and Drowsy Detector which uses facial recognition technology to determine when a driver is getting drowsy and sends a warning followed by an alert that can be deactivated only when the driver stops.

"Today's mobile technology allows us to envision and create solutions to problems in completely new and different ways," said Marissa Shorenstein, New York State president of AT&T. "By focusing this challenge on traffic safety, AT&T hopes to spur a wave of innovation aimed at making our streets safer for all that use them. The creative solutions we see here today are just the beginning."

"New York City's Vision Zero initiative means that we need to use every tool in our arsenal to drive down traffic related fatalities and injuries. The AT&T Connected Intersections traffic safety tech challenge calls on the tech industry to try innovation as simple as the phone in your pocket to improve safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike," said Kim Wiley-Schwartz, Assistant Commissioner for Education and Outreach, New York City's Department of Transportation. "We commend these entrepreneurs and applaud the efforts of AT&T and NYU Poly to do everything they can to make the streets safer."

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Latest Innovations from Daktronics
    May 16, 2012
    With brand new high-resolution dynamic message signs in the works, Daktronics says it is prepared to connect with industry professionals at the ITS America Annual Meeting and Conference. This year, the company will share its latest solutions for using full-colour DMS to boost message comprehension in roadway applications. Amongst its other full-colour DMS offerings, Daktronics engineered the new Vanguard VX series DMS with a focus on sharp graphics capability and valuable serviceability for which the compan
  • Europe’s road safety gains have stagnated EU
    March 17, 2017
    Europe will fail to meet its road death targets as enforcement budgets are slashed and drivers face an epidemic of distractions. The European Union will not achieve its aim of halving the number of people killed on its roads each year by 2020, delegates to Tispol’s (the organisation of European traffic police) annual conference in Manchester were told. “The target will be missed because there was only a 17% decrease in road fatalities across Europe between 2010 and 2015 when [the rate of reduction] should h
  • Arizona DOT to test prototype wrong-way vehicle detection system
    November 25, 2015
    After a comprehensive study of wrong-way driving crashes on state highways and how technology may help reduce the threat, the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) is planning a prototype project to use existing highway sensors to detect wrong-way vehicles and alert authorities and other motorists. ADOT director John Halikowski said the study sets the stage for the agency to develop and test a unique and innovative system to detect and track wrong-way drivers, improving opportunities for law enforceme
  • Inrix and Volvo Cars debut global collaboration for real-time traffic information
    November 4, 2015
    Volvo Cars and Inrix are to collaborate on the automaker’s first live traffic service; Inrix will provide Volvo drivers with real-time and predictive traffic flow information for routes, travel times, and alerts to accidents and incidents. INRIX Traffic will be a part of Volvo Sensus Connect, an innovative on-board infotainment and navigation solution that allows drivers to find and pay for parking, discover new places, stream their favourite music and much more. Inrix real-time traffic will be availabl