A traffic light alert system for a vehicle includes a camera, a processor that processes image data captured by the camera to determine a signal status of a traffic light present ahead of the vehicle, and a global positioning system operable to determine a current geographical location of the vehicle. A display device is operable to display an iconistic traffic light representation. Responsive to determination, via processing of image data captured by the camera, that the traffic light ahead of and being approached by the vehicle has a particular signal status, a control controls the display device so that the displayed iconistic traffic light representation indicates the determined particular signal status. The control adjusts orientation of the displayed iconistic traffic light representation between horizontal orientation and vertical orientation responsive to the current geographic location of the vehicle as determined by the global positioning system of the vehicle.
