A new mobile app that collects data about driving habits, from which traffic patterns can be derived, was released in San Antonio as part of a pilot created by the city and underwritten by USAA.

Boston-based tech startup Cambridge Mobile Telematics was hired to develop the app, called San Antonio’s Safest Driver, which uses smartphone sensors to determine when a vehicle is accelerating, braking, speeding and taking hard corners — as well as when a phone is picked up while driving. The start and end points of a user’s trip, travel time and mode of transportation will also be shared with the city and USAA.

As an incentive for residents to download the app and share data about their driving habits, the city is offering a $10,000 prize for the “safest” driver in San Antonio from June 11 to Sept. 3.

San Antonio-based USAA, an insurance and financial services company, paid $49,500 to underwrite the contest and the custom app, records show.

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