Story highlights Researchers have developed virtual traffic lights which disappear once a junction is crossed

The traffic lights use connected vehicle technology

The lights could cut emissions and be safer

Tomorrow Transformed explores innovative approaches and opportunities available in business and society through technology.

(CNN) Being stuck in traffic is one of the most infuriating experiences for a driver, but researchers at Carnegie Mellon University may have found a solution. They claim they can reduce the commute times of urban workers by 40% by replacing physical traffic lights with virtual traffic lights.

"With this technology, traffic lights will be created on demand when [two cars] are trying to cross this intersection, and they will be turned down as soon as we don't need it," explains Ozan Tonguz , a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, who helped develop the technology.

Virtual traffic lights appear on the driver's dashboard and explain with green and red arrows which direction they can safely travel in, just like with normal traffic lights. But they disappear once the junction has been crossed.

The developers say virtual traffic lights will cut carbon emissions, reduce accidents and cut those annoying commute times.

This may seem futuristic but virtual traffic lights use connected vehicle technology which federal regulators will soon make mandatory for cars as part of the U.S. government's vehicle-to-vehicle communication program