With thousands of accidents caused every year by tired drivers, Ford's new Driver Alert safety system could prove to be life-saving technology.

The new system uses advanced technology to analyse driver performance and issues a warning if the driver shows signs of drowsiness or erratic steering.

The Driver Alert system comprises a small forward-facing camera connected to an on-board computer. The camera is mounted on the back of the rear-view mirror and is trained to identify lane markings on both sides of the vehicle.

When the vehicle is on the move the computer looks at the road ahead and predicts where the car should be positioned relative to the lane markings.