No More Red Lights? Is This a Dream?

Imagine a world where you never again catch a red light. With Audi's new Traffic Light Recognition Technology, we are getting a little closer to that reality.

The technology, which was demonstrated earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, uses an in-vehicle 4G connection thanks to a partnership with AT&T to access information from the city's network of traffic lights. This allows the car to advise the driver of the speed necessary to make the green light and provides a countdown to yellow and red signals.

If you do happen to catch a red light, the system tells you how long you'll be sitting at the light.

In addition, the system also interacts with Audi's start-stop technology, conserving gas while you wait and turning the motor back on five seconds before the light changes.

This innovation is expected to save on fuel and CO2 emissions as well as your own sanity as you no longer have to push the pedal to the metal in an effort the catch the green light.

According to the automaker, "A market launch is currently the subject of intense analysis in the United States." Pending that approval, we could see the technology implemented in the near future.

What do you think of Audi's Traffic Light Recognition Technology? Leave your comments for us at Jim Ellis Audi Marietta in the space below.