RoadWise: A Safe Systems Challenge to Rethink Road Safety in the Philippines

As Road Safety Month comes to a close, the work to make our streets safer for all road users is far from over. This year, SafeTravelPH, in partnership with the UP Institute of Civil Engineering, Palafox Associates, and the UP Data Science Society, launched RoadWise: The Road Safety Systems Challenge — a national call for students and professionals to design safer mobility systems rooted in the Safe Systems Approach.

The Philippines continues to grapple with alarming road crash statistics, many of which are preventable. From poorly designed intersections to the lack of pedestrian infrastructure, many of our road safety issues stem not just from driver behavior—but from the systems that shape how we all move.

RoadWise challenges participants to go beyond surface-level solutions and reimagine how roads, vehicles, policies, and behaviors interact. The goal is not just to improve traffic—but to save lives, reduce injuries, and promote fairness and accessibility on our roads.

What the Challenge Invites

Participants are asked to form teams of up to five members and submit design or systems proposals that align with the Safe Systems pillars:

• Safer Roads

• Safer Vehicles

• Safer People

• Safer Speeds

• Better Crash Response

  
  

Entries may include:

• Redesigned street layouts using images, diagrams, or videos

• Proposals for vehicle or driver support technologies

• Policy tools for speed management and traffic calming

• Data visualization and monitoring systems

• Roadside safety features or public education strategies

All proposals will be judged based on feasibility, impact, boldness, and their alignment with science-backed approaches.

Key Dates & How to Join

• 📝 New Submission Deadline: June 9, 2025

• 🏛️ Culminating Event: June 14, 2025 at UP Institute of Civil Engineering, UP Diliman

• 🔗 Entry Link: tinyurl.com/safesystemsph2025

• 🔗 Access the guide here: tinyurl.com/roadwise2025guidance

Finalists will pitch their ideas to a distinguished panel of experts from government, academia, and the private sector—with the chance to win prizes and be recognized as part of a new generation of road safety innovators.