SAAB is helping drivers stay focused on the road by developing a safety system that monitors eye and head movements, and sounds a warning buzzer if the driver's attention strays long enough to risk causing an accident. At 55mph a car travels 81 feet in just one second - so the consequences of attention lapses, no matter how innocent or brief, can be extremely serious.

The Swedish company, with a world reputation for pursuing safety far beyond the requirements of legislation, is basing its pioneering system on what the driver actually does behind the wheel, instead of what he or she should be doing. Two miniature cameras with infra-red lenses are installed in the car to monitor the driver's eye and head movement.

As soon as the driver's gaze moves away from what Saab calls the 'primary attention zone' - the central part of the windscreen in front of the driver - a timer starts counting. If the driver's eyes and head do not return to the 'straight ahead' position within about two seconds, a buzzer will sound. And if there is still no response, a brake pulse will be delivered through the car's ESP system.

The system is sophisticated enough to detect when the driver is looking in the rear-view mirror or turning a corner - and will allow more time to elapse before activating the buzzer. The software is also speed-sensitive, so it can distinguish the different conditions in city driving and faster highways.