BMW has announced that its new cars will be compatible with EnLighten, a new app which transmits traffic light data directly into the car’s display.
The EnLighten App combines data from traffic management systems with the car’s GPS location to show the next light a driver’s approaching and how recently it last changed colour.
It can then predict when the traffic lights will change, and will also alert a driver whether or not they should start braking if they’re approaching a light that’s about to turn red.
The app even knowns when your indicators are on, and will also be able to distinguish between left and right-turn traffic lights if the car is parked up at a junction with the indicators activated.
EnLighten has been readily available as a standalone smartphone app for a while now, but can now run through BMW’s iDrive infotainment system, displayed on the iDrive screen in real time.
Available for both iPhone and Android users, the EnLighten app will be compatible with all new BMWs that come with the ConnectedDrive driver assistance system.
BMW claims the app will increase safety and also help to save fuel by avoiding unnecessary stopping and starting at traffic lights, while it could also aid impatient motorists and reduce road rage.
The only catch, however, is that EnLighten is currently available only in a very select number of cities in the US, though it’s expected that it’ll add more locations, including the UK, in the near future.
