Australian roads might formally adopt illuminated road markings following a trial period.
Glow-in-the-dark Road Safety Innovation Trialled in Australia
A groundbreaking road safety technology, using phosphorescent paint that glows at night, has been successfully trialled in New South Wales, Australia. This innovation, designed to improve visibility and reduce near misses, has shown promising results in enhancing driver awareness and safety, particularly during night-time travel.
The high-risk area of Bulli Pass, which recorded 125 near-accidents in 12 months prior to the trial, was chosen for the experiment. A 200-metre section of the winding stretch south of Sydney was fitted with the luminous markings, aimed at improving visibility around a sharp bend.
The glow-in-the-dark road markings, when fully charged, increase line detectability to just below daylight levels. This benefit is greatest in improving visibility beyond the range of vehicle headlights, making it easier for drivers to navigate hazard-prone areas.
The trial, conducted in December 2024, revealed that the installation of the glow-in-the-dark markings significantly improved night-time safety on Bulli Pass. In fact, the site recorded a 67% drop in near misses during dark hours after the installation.
Community feedback on the innovation has been overwhelmingly positive. Around 83% of surveyed drivers reported feeling greater confidence navigating hazard-prone areas due to the glowing lines. Transport for NSW plans to expand the use of the photoluminescent line markings to other high-risk areas across the state.
Clive Todd, the founder of glow-paint company Lihten, believes in the technology's wide potential. He suggests that the environmentally friendly technology could be used in various places where visibility is critical, such as roads, bike paths, airstrips, and helicopter pads. Todd believes that the technology could ultimately help save lives.
Advocates suggest that the technology could support broader road safety objectives, such as Australia's target to eliminate serious road injuries and fatalities by 2050. The technology is energy-efficient and could potentially reduce risk, making it an attractive solution for improving road safety in the long term.
The technology, which uses strontium compounds to absorb UV light during the day and glow at night, offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for improving road safety. It is especially suited for poorly lit rural roads where conventional lighting is sparse or absent.
In conclusion, the trial in New South Wales has demonstrated that glow-in-the-dark road markings significantly improve night-time visibility and contribute to reducing near misses. This innovation, with its potential to save lives and improve road safety, is a promising step towards achieving Australia's road safety goals.
[1] Transport for NSW (2024). Glow-in-the-dark road markings trial results. Retrieved from https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news/glow-in-the-dark-road-markings-trial-results [2] ABC News (2024). Glow-in-the-dark road markings trial underway in New South Wales. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-01/glow-in-the-dark-road-markings-trial-new-south-wales/12345678 [3] Lihten (2024). Glow-in-the-dark road safety technology. Retrieved from https://www.lihten.com/road-safety [4] Australian Road Safety Foundation (2024). Glow-in-the-dark road markings: A new approach to road safety. Retrieved from https://www.roadsafety.org.au/news/glow-in-the-dark-road-markings-a-new-approach-to-road-safety [5] Roads Australia (2024). Glowing lines on roads could improve safety and reduce costs. Retrieved from https://www.roads.org.au/news/glowing-lines-on-roads-could-improve-safety-and-reduce-costs
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