BMW Group will introduce a mobile app that will help drivers anticipate traffic signal changes in cities to increase safety and save fuel by avoiding unnecessary acceleration, the automaker announced.

BMW's EnLighten App by Connected Signals, which is compatible with Apple iOS devices, allows a driver to see traffic signal data on the vehicle’s display in real time.

The EnLighten app shows the current status of the traffic light in front of the car in real time as well as a countdown to when the signal will change. The EnLighten app offers a recommendation about whether or not to stop for the traffic light or proceed through based on the vehicle's current position and speed. An audio alert notifies the driver about a pending change in the signal they are approaching.

At intersections where there are dedicated traffic signals for turns, the activation of the vehicle’s turn indicator tells the app of the driver’s intention to turn so that only the status of the relevant signal is displayed.

In order for the EnLighten app to work it requires a city to have an integrated network of smart traffic signals. Supported cities currently are Portland and Eugene, Ore. and Salt Lake City, Utah offering more than 2000 traffic lights. More cities will follow.

The EnLighten app integration will work in any BMW equipped with the BMW Apps option with the app running on a connected Apple iPhone.

Beginning today, when the EnLighten App is downloaded from the Apple App Store, it will be compatible with any BMW equipped with the BMW Apps option.

This app has been specially certified by the BMW Group for safe in-car use. The app uses the BMW Group’s A4A (Apps for Automotive) technology and can be downloaded for iOS-based devices from the Apple App Store. Having connected their smartphone to the car via the USB socket or snap-in adapter and launched the app, users are presented with its various functions via the iDrive Controller, the Control Display and the car’s audio system. To use the app in BMW models, the BMW ConnectedDrive Services option needs to be specified.