10th Student Safety Technology Design Competition

Date/Time
Date(s) - May 12, 2026 - May 15, 2026
12:00 am UTC

Categories


Be Part of the Growing Excitement!

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is excited to be reaching out to you to tell you about the upcoming milestone 10th collegiate Student Safety Technology Design Competition (SSTDC) at ESV!

Join Us

  • A contest for students as part of the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) Conference May 12-15, 2026, in Toronto, Canada.
  • Teams of students and faculty develop models or mockups of new safety systems.
  • Top 9 teams present at ESV in Toronto.

How Do Students Enter?

  • Create a team with 2-5 undergrad/grad students and a faculty advisor.
  • Produce an idea for one of the categories listed below.
  • Email your abstract to: SSTDC@dot.gov.

Why Should We Enter?

  • This is an opportunity to show the industry your talents and showcase your safety ideas.
  • Top 9 teams receive international recognition and meet safety professionals in government and industry at the ESV conference in Toronto.

Important Dates!

  • 8/15/25: Abstract due
  • 8/19/25: Abstract acceptance notification sent
  • 1/21/26-1/23/26: Regional design evaluation
  • 2/6/26: International finalists notified
  • 5/12/26: Oral presentation by international finalists in Toronto
  • 5/15/26: 1st place winner and runner-up recognition at closing ceremony

Additional Information

The SSTDC is a special part of the International Technical Conference on the Enhanced Safety of Vehicles (ESV) co-hosted by the United States Department of Transportation’s NHTSA and Transport Canada. This upcoming event, held in Toronto, Canada, from May 12-15, 2026, will celebrate the milestone 10th SSTDC.

Conceived in 2004 at the 19th ESV Conference in Washington, D.C., the competition encourages students to engage in the designing and developing innovative vehicle safety technologies. The program has grown over the years, making SSTDC a prominent event at the ESV conference. It addresses emerging vehicle safety priorities worldwide and connects students with global leaders in vehicle safety research and innovation.

You are invited to visit the main ESV Conference website to learn more about the conference and the SSTDC website where you can find an overview of the competition format, important dates, rules, assistance opportunities, competition categories, scoring guidelines, and regional coordinators.

The current deadline for all SSTDC abstract entries is August 15, 2025. You may email questions to sstdc@dot.gov. Looking forward to receiving abstract(s) and your university’s participation in 2025-2026!