The Code Girls United Tech Trio team recently advanced to the International Technovation Challenge semifinals in the junior division for their development of a new driving app.

For the competition, girls from all over the world work to solve real-world problems through technology, according to technovationchallenge.org.

The Kalispell team’s app, “DriveRight,” aims to improve people’s understanding of Montana driving laws in a fun and interactive way.

The team, which includes Emma Anderson, Isabelle Ashley and Makayla Davenport, wanted to develop the driving app after the November 2019 tragedy when Olney-Bissell School student Jordana Hubble was hit by a car while trying to cross the highway after it failed to stop for a bus. Hubble continues recovering from a traumatic brain injury at Nexus Children’s Hospital in Houston.

In developing the app, the girls conducted research with Montana Highway Patrol and Montana Department of Transportation.

The app includes: a flash card page with preloaded and user defined cards; a scenario game with commonly confused driving situations; a quiz page containing questions on the state driver exam; a Department of Motor Vehicles finder; Montana driving laws and helpful tips for drivers.

Code Girls United is an after-school program that teaches coding and business skills to girls in grades four through eight.

To view the team’s video about the app visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NnNtGK5xrI.

For more information on Code Girls United visit https://codegirlsunited.org.