SHELL’S road safety programme for tertiary education students, #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge crowned Team Thunderbolt from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) as the grand winner of 2026 in an event officiated by Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
This challenge, which is themed ‘Innovate! Captivate! Save Lives!’, is open to all university and college students in Malaysia, aimed at empowering youth to incorporate science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in proposing innovative solutions to mitigate road safety issues.
“Road safety is not just about preventing accidents. It is about protecting lives, strengthening communities and creating a culture where everyone takes responsibility for making our roads safer.
“Through the #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge, we are empowering young Malaysians to apply their creativity, innovation and STEM capabilities to address real-world road safety issues.
“The ideas we see today give us confidence that the next generation can play a meaningful role in creating safer journeys for all,” shared Shell Malaysia country chair and senior vice-president for Upstream Malaysia Siti Sulaiman.
The winning team consisting of Zakwan Faizuddin Aziz, Aqil Faris Fauzi, Muhammad Hadef Iman Nor Yahyuddin, Rubini Nair Rama Chandran, and Wan Mohammad Zaman Az Zuhri Zainuddin developed Hero Smart Helmet, which is an integrated motorcycle safety solution designed to detect early risks, alert riders and improve emergency response.
Hero Smart Helmet is equipped with alcohol and drowsiness detection, blind-spot monitoring, enhanced rider visibility and GPS tracking.
The helmet provides real-time safety alerts to riders and can send location updates to family members during emergencies.
Team Thunderbolt from Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) was one of five finalist teams that competed against students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), and University of Technology Sarawak (UTS).
“#ShellSelamatSampai programme empowered us to think differently about road safety and develop solutions with real-world impact.
“We are grateful for Shell’s guidance and look forward to working with more communities to make our roads safer,” shared team leader Zakwan.
The 2026 grand finale was judged by a panel of distinguished judges comprising Shell Malaysia high risk transport advisor Harnamdav Singh, Perak State Road Transport Department Malaysia (JPJ Perak) automotive engineering division head Muhamad Arif Fahmi Abdul Wahab, Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) research officer Dr Ahmad Azad Ab Rashid, and Department of Higher Education (JPT) principal assistant director Wan Noor Sheila Mior Sharifuddin.
Shell’s commitment to road safety in Malaysia dates back to 1957. Over the decades, its efforts have evolved through close collaboration with government stakeholders to foster a stronger culture of road safety across communities.
In 2017, Shell introduced the #ShellSelamatSampai Varsity Challenge, a platform that empowers tertiary students to develop innovative solutions to address road safety challenges.
Since its inception, the challenge has inspired and nurtured young talent across Malaysia, encouraging students to think creatively and bring forward fresh ideas that contribute to safer roads for all.
For further information on Shell’s STEM and community development initiatives, visit their official website. [hyperlink: https://www.shell.com.my/about-us/sustainability/communities/road-safety-malaysia.html ]
