HARRISBURG, Pa. — With the January 31 deadline to enter approaching fast, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) are reminding high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors to get their entries in for the first PennDOT Innovations Challenge.

The PennDOT Innovations Challenge asks students to look at technologies and innovative methods, aside from traditional paid advertising, marketing, and social media channels, that can be developed in the next five to ten years to curb unsafe teen driving practices.

“Pennsylvania’s high school students are among the best and brightest in the nation, and the PennDOT Innovations Challenge gives Pennsylvania high school students an opportunity to take on the issue of reducing traffic crashes, craft solutions and make positive changes,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards.  “We are challenging our next generation of leaders to become an active part of the solution in helping develop innovative ways to tackle this transportation issue.”

The Innovations Challenge aims to not only help students explore real transportation challenges that PennDOT is facing, but also open their minds to the very real possibility of working for PennDOT after graduation.

“Today’s high school students are tomorrow’s leaders, and the Innovations Challenge enables them to play an active role in helping solve real-world problems, like unsafe driving,” said Education Secretary Pedro A. Rivera. “By engaging in activities like this, students can not only put their critical-thinking and design skills to the test, but they can also serve as ambassadors for safe driving to their peers.”

Eleven regional winners will be selected and be invited to compete in Harrisburg for the grand championship in April 2018. PennDOT intends for the Innovations Challenge to become an annual event.

For complete Innovations Challenge details, visit www.penndot.gov/innovation.