High School Student Develops Unique Technology to Track Drunk Motorists
Melisa Wandiga, a ninth-grade student at Kisumu Senior Academy in Kenya, has developed a unique technology that could help the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) arrest drunk drivers. Wandiga presented her invention at the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair on April 26, 2023.
The technology she created uses a special connection between a motorbike’s engine and a helmet worn by the driver to detect if the driver is drunk. If the driver is drunk, the technology turns off the engine automatically, forcing the driver to stop the journey.
The system also detects if the driver is not wearing the helmet and turns off the bike immediately. Additionally, if the driver removes the helmet while the motorcycle is in motion, the technology slows the bike down before turning off the engine.
“When the motorists do not wear the helmet, the engine will go off. If the motorist is also drunk, the engine will shut down.
Wandiga and her grade 10 partner developed this technology as an intervention to reduce road accidents in the country. They believe it will help the NTSA achieve its plan to reduce road fatalities. According to the latest report by the NTSA, which was released on April 3, 2023, 1,070 people lost their lives in the first three months of 2023 due to reckless driving, including speeding, crossing at undesignated places, distracted driving, and crossing the roads at undesignated areas.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen introduced new measures in April 2023 to prevent road carnage, including mandatory driving tests for commercial drivers before renewing their licenses. Drivers will also be required to undergo physical fitness tests, including an eye and hearing test, by a qualified medical practitioner starting on July 1, 2023.
Wandiga and her partner emerged first in the competition, presenting their invention at the Kenya Science and Engineering Fair in Kisumu County. The technology they developed is a significant step in combating the issue of drunk driving, which is one of the main causes of road accidents in many countries.
High School Student Develops Unique Technology to Track Drunk Motorists
