If everyone released their brake pedal at the same time, more cars would be able to make it through the stop light. Thus, people can travel quicker saving everybody's trip time around town.
I don't mean step on the gas. It would be dangerous to travel 20-30 mph with the same distance between cars as there was when they were stopped. However, if everyone idled instead, there would be more cars making it through the stop light.
It would take everyone at the stop light to watch the light and the cars ahead very closely. Ideally everyone would move smoothly. But keep your foot hovering over the brake pedal just in case that one idiot in your lane didn't get the memo.