The app uses smartphone technology to mimic fancier car safety systems by detecting signs of trouble that could lead to accidents.
Modern phones with cameras facing both front and back allow the app to monitor a driver's head pose, eyes and blinking rate to detect possible distraction or drowsiness, even as it keeps watch on the road ahead, website TechNewsDaily reported.
"We can determine the distance between cars in front and whether a driver is changing lanes on the outside, while detecting drowsiness and distraction inside," said Andrew Campbell, a computer scientist at Dartmouth College.
The smartphone sits mounted on a dashboard holder as a hands-free helper for drivers. Whenever the car safety app detects any dangerous patterns in driver behaviour or outside conditions, it warns the driver with a blinking light and a noise alert.
The app developers