The only thing more annoying than having to obey the speed limit when driving is having to frequently stop at red lights. So in a brilliant attempt to become the world’s awesomest automaker, Audi has created a new in-dash system that tells you how fast or slow you need to drive in order to hit as many green lights as possible.
Demoed in and around Las Vegas at CES this week, the Smart City Traffic Light Assistance system relies on local data sources about traffic light patterns and timing (beamed to your vehicle over Wi-Fi) instead of a camera scanning the horizon for upcoming stop lights.
Using this data, and the speed and heading of your vehicle, the system provides a countdown timer of when the next traffic light will change to green, letting you adjust your speed accordingly so you hopefully don’t have to come to a full stop. The system — which is currently being tested in Europe — can also automatically stop and start your vehicle when waiting at a light to conserve fuel or battery life. And while it seems awesome, here’s to hoping Audi finds a way to prevent drivers from dangerously racing ahead just so they can avoid stopping at a red. [Audi via Autoblog]