Toyota, KDDI a Japanese telecommunications operator, and Komeda, a Japan-based coffee chain, have started a new smartphone application called Driving Barista.

The application has been launched with the objective of reducing the number of traffic accidents in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, which are mainly caused due to usage of smartphones by drivers while driving the vehicle.

Toyota managing officer Shuichi Murakami said: “In line with contributing to the ultimate goal of achieving zero traffic fatalities and zero traffic accidents, Toyota has implemented automobile safety measures as one of its top priority management concerns.

"Toyota has implemented automobile safety measures as one of its top priority management concerns."

“By carrying out a new traffic safety education initiative together with Komeda and KDDI, we hope to further reduce traffic accidents.”

This is a first of its kind smartphone application launched in Japan, which will be jointly promoted by an automobile company, a communication company, and a food and beverage company, as part of traffic safety initiative.

Aichi Prefecture has consistently registered the highest rate of traffic fatalities in Japan for the last thirteen year. In 2015 alone, there were 44,369 traffic accidents which resulted in injuries or deaths.

The companies plan to begin their own joint project in tandem with the Japanese government's 2016 Autumn Traffic Safety Campaign, which is scheduled to take place from September 21 to 30.

They will promote traffic safety in Aichi Prefecture through an educational initiative.

The Driving Barista application can only be used within Aichi Prefecture.

The application uses the gyro sensor to sense the tilt of the smartphone body, and the GPS to determine the distance driven, this application measures the distance the driver has driven while leaving the smartphone facedown.