- #Traffic light timing app drivers#
- #Traffic light timing app driver#
- #Traffic light timing app software#
It’s all meant to happen in real time as you drive down the road.
#Traffic light timing app drivers#
Instead, third parties collect traffic light data from local government agencies, analyze it to predict when lights will change, then send that information to drivers over a 4G cellular network.
#Traffic light timing app software#
Traffic light prediction software doesn’t connect directly to traffic lights. “It’s much easier to just pay attention to the road,” Funkhouser says, “and not get distracted by the unreliable information on the dashboard.” But they aren’t sophisticated enough to help drivers sail through a sea of green lights, CR found.ĭrivers who want a smoother commute may be better off ignoring apps and following some tried-and-true strategies, such as paying attention to traffic flow, obeying speed limits, and avoiding hard braking and acceleration. The apps instead use sophisticated algorithms, historical data, and information from local traffic control centers to predict whether a light will be red or green.
That’s mainly because today’s vehicles and traffic lights aren’t yet equipped to communicate directly with each other. Those results show the limitations of using software to predict when traffic lights will change. “They sometimes said the light was green when it was actually red, and vice versa.” What’s more, it can help ensure a smoother traffic flow and ease congestion if used by more drivers, which should result in reduced carbon emissions, as well.įinally, since it helps drivers adjust their speed while approaching traffic lights, the app helps them save gas and increase mileage, by eliminating the need for frequent braking and acceleration, so it offers a financial benefit, as well.Īt the moment, EnLighten only works in cities with an integrated network of smart traffic signals, which for now include Portland and Eugene, Oregon, and Salt Lake City, Utah.“These systems were sometimes accurate, but sometimes remarkably wrong,” says Kelly Funkhouser, head of connected and automated vehicles at CR.
#Traffic light timing app driver#
If a driver activates a turn signal while approaching an intersection with separate left- and right-turn lights, the app will only display the status of the light that is dedicated to a left or a right turn, depending on which turn indicator is used by the driver.īy letting drivers know what the status of the nearest traffic light is, EnLighten helps make them more attentive when crossing an intersection, which is bound to reduce the number of intersection accidents caused by driver error. On top of that, EnLighten issues an audio alert to warn the driver of an upcoming traffic light change, and a visual alert when the signal turns green.Īnother useful feature that this app offers is the information that is specific to the car’s turn signal. In addition to the countdown timer, the app makes recommendations on whether the driver should keep going and cross the intersection or slow down, based on the car’s speed and position, information that it retrieves through the driver’s smartphone’s GPS. It shows a countdown to the next signal change, so that drivers can know how long before the light turns green or red, which will help them decide whether they can make the green light or they should stop. The app, dubbed EnLighten, was created by Oregon-based software development company Connected Drive, and it can be used by anyone who owns a BMW model equipped with the car maker’s iDrive infotainment system and a compatible iOS phone.ĮnLighten connects with the vehicle through the iDrive system, informing the driver of the current status of the traffic light the vehicle is approaching, by showing it on the iDrive screen on the car’s dashboard. Improving intersection safety is one of the goals that German car maker BMW is trying to achieve by releasing an app that offers a countdown timer for traffic lights, that can help drivers anticipate traffic light changes, making it easier for them to determine whether there is enough time for them to beat a red light by accelerating or they need to start slowing down and stop.īMW recently announced that it has integrated a traffic light-timing app into its vehicles, becoming the first automaker to offer such an app, according to the company itself.
Speeding while trying to cross an intersection before the light turns red increases the risk of crashes, presenting a serious threat to road safety. Driver inattention is one of the most common causes of car accidents at intersections.
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