HISD’s Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy is partnering with Houston ConnectSmart to help the Texas Department of Transportation end the streak of daily deaths on Texas roadways.
ConnectSmart is the first mobility app designed for Houston and provides multiple transportation options for driving, creating routes, and finding a carpool service.
YWCPA students are learning about the new technology and exploring its many useful features to understand how the app will benefit the Houston community and help drivers travel more safely.
“I encourage each and every one of you to get the app on your phone,” said Texas Department of Public Safety Sergeant Stephen Woodard. “It’s going to be extremely important and integral to your safety as you drive.”
The app provides features that support safety in school zones, helps cyclists plan safer routes, and assists in clearing stranded motorists and their vehicles.
YWCPA students were given the opportunity to offer a fresh voice for a change in driver behaviors on roadways and near schools.
“We share the same desire to see that we all do better with respect to being safe on the road,” said YWCPA senior Sarai Muniz. “We urge everyone to be safe and wear their seatbelts.”
Kailee Mills Foundation Director David Mills was also in attendance to help #EndTheStreakTx and share the story of his daughter, Kailee, who died tragically in a car crash in 2017.
“For all the parents out there—if you have children, you know how devastating it would be for you to lose a child,” said Mills. “I’m so happy to hear that we now have an app that is going to help us get to our destinations safely.”
From Nov. 10 to Nov. 20, the #EndTheStreakTx campaign will donate $1 to the Kailee Mills Foundation for every ConnectSmart user who travels safely through a Houston area school or bike zone.
“We want to see the whole person develop in a way that their wisdom and everyday habits support their health, well-being, and other people around them,” said HISD Chief Operating Officer Wanda Paul.
Learn more about HISD’s partnership with Houston ConnectSmart here.