Audi cars know when traffic lights will go green

If you have ever longed for the ability to turn all traffic lights in your path green, a new gizmo from Audi comes close to making the dream a reality.

Traffic Light Assist uses information beamed to the car by Wi-fi to count down the number of seconds before the next red light will change to green.

The system corrects itself when the car changes lane and becomes subject to a different traffic light. Linked to the vehicle’s stop/start technology, it can fire up the engine automatically a couple of seconds before the light changes to green.

Stopping at red lights is bad for the environment

Traffic Light Assist promises to make city driving less stressful and could also save fuel.

Congestion is detrimental to the environment because stopping and starting, or at least slowing down and speeding up, uses up energy. Energy in cars usually means burning fossils fuels.

The energy required to move a car from stationary to 1mph is far greater than moving it from 1mph to 2mph. Ideally, once you get going you should never stop - not even for red lights.

It is possible to minimise the number of times you come to a complete stop without a high-tech driving aid such as the Traffic Light Assist. Keep your speed in check, drive smoothly and anticipate lights. It will make you a better driver and you will save money at the pump.