Audi Technology Lets Drivers Hit Nothing but Green Lights

Posted: Jul. 23, 2008 11:07 a.m.

Kicking Tires reports that Audi, in partnership with the town of Ingolstadt, Germany, has developed a system that encourages drivers to gun their engines to get through stop lights before they change to red. 

Yeah, go ahead and re-read it.

It still says that. 

KT explains, "The company -- partnered with local government -- has equipped almost 50 stoplights with sensors that relay information to specially equipped cars to -- wait for it -- tell drivers how fast to drive to catch a green light!"   The lights relay their timing to onboard computers in the vehicles, which then inform the driver what speed she would need to maintain to get through the green light.  There was no word, at press time, as to whether the system is aware of speed limits.

There is a serious purpose to the technology.  Autoblog comments, "The result is improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions, optimal use of time spent on the road and less wear and tear on the brakes. The system can also adapt to traffic patterns to minimize the amount of red lights you'll have to encounter on your daily drive."  

Now, all we need is an automaker who can give us a device that changes red lights to green…

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