More than 2,200 NSW primary and secondary students competed in the third NRMA Kids’ Design Challenge TechnoPush at Eastern Creek Raceway last term.

Teams from the 50 participating schools designed and constructed billycarts, which they then raced.

The challenge taught students important road safety concepts while also offering them a unique take on science and technology and the design process.

The annual event is part of a joint initiative between the NRMA and the education department, and drew a record number of students.

NRMA director Gary Punch said: “Schools are enthusiastic about the educational value of the day, which brings the classroom into the real world.”

One of the day’s main objectives was to pass on the fundamentals of safe vehicle conduct to students.

NRMA group chief executive officer Tony Stuart said the event was “part of the NRMA’s aim to ensure basic road safety concepts are learned from an early age”.

“We want the drivers of tomorrow to stay safe,” he said.

The program also enhanced participants’ knowledge of design and technology.

“Kids have taken away what they learnt last year and come back with improved designs. Billycarts range from wildly inventive to simply ingenious,” Mr Stuart said.

Andy Thomson, teacher of a winning Balgowlah North Public School team, said the event benefited students by “engaging them in a task which relates to their world”.

“They are committed and excited about something they can see a real purpose for,” he said.

Mr Thomson said it wasn’t only the kids who raced at Eastern Creek who benefited. He said the event involved months of preparation, design and refinement with participation from everyone in the class and the support from teachers, parents and local business.