Glow-in-the-dark roads coming to the Netherlands | CarAdvice

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Glow-in-the-dark roads coming to the Netherlands

By Anthony Crawford |
FIND DEALS

A couple of Dutch firms are about to light up a highway at night using glow-in-the-dark paint that they believe will make night driving safer.

Studio Roosegararde and Heijmans Infrastructure have developed a paint that is treated with a luminous powder that “charges” during the daylight and glows for up 10 hours at night.

Their goal is to have all highways (and roads) eventually re-lined with the special paint so that visibility is improved.

The two Dutch companies have also designed a “dynamic paint” that reacts given certain temperatures. Made for colder climates where ice crystals can form, the paint activates freshly formed paint to warn drivers to slow down.

The glow-in-the-dark paint provides a safety benefit to all road users, as opposed to expensive in-car technologies that usually just favour those able to afford high-end vehicles.

The road safety plan also includes the potential for an electric priority lane that charges vehicles as they drive, as well as “wind lights” that only illuminate when a vehicle approaches.

Roosengaarde and Heijmans say the first metres of the “Smart Highway” will be in place in the Netherlands by mid-2013.


 

  • Dave W

    As if Australian govt would fork out the money for something like this. And I hope it lasts longer than the LED lights they use on Victoria Rd, because that one is already stuffed and it hasn’t even been a year yet.

  • Golfschwein

    Brilliant idea. Here, though, the usual thing: too much expense for too much expanse.

    • Chevrons

      True, though at least we’re assured that they won’t be inclined to extend the glow paint to red bus lanes, T ways, zebra crossings, etc, otherwise I might just leave my sunnies on for night driving :)

  • Schn

    The electric priority lane would cost a bit too much in my opinion. But the glow in the dark lines seem like a brilliant idea. 

  • Amlohac

    Glow in the dakr cars next. I can see that being the next “Matt-Black” type fad. ;-)

  • Peanut

    Yay lets add another lane to the roads.
    It will fit in nicely next the the bike lane, bus lane, T3 Lane and all the other lanes we have.
    I think we need to go further.
    Next we will have a lane for men and women, young people and old people…where do we draw the line.

  • 3D4

    Simple: If your electric vehicle can’t make it.. Don’t go there… (and buy some enviromentaly friendly car, like modern diesel or some other alternatives like car with modern petrol engine.. )

    • Sonic

      Great backward thinking there, 3D4.

      • 3D4

        Thanks, I certainly enjoying my turbo diesel..  

  • Acfsambo7

    Glow in the dark paint would be useful on more commonly used country roads where there are no street lights. It would be no use in the city where there is far too much light pollution.

  • Shak

    The Electric car lane seems too costly for any significant application in Australia, but the glow in the dark paint seems like a good idea. We already have some different coloured lane marking in snowy climates so this glow in the dark idea could have many potential applications.

  • gt86.com.au

    imagine the headaches this would give you.. Our Truck drivers are on enough drugs already. This could really make them trip out!

    • Dan

      How would glow in the dark strips give you headaches?

  • John

    Great ideas that need to be encouraged.  Somehow I suspect it might be cost justifiable in a small country like the Netherlands, but completely unrealistic in a vast area known as regional Australia. Here’s hoping I’m wrong, because it’s out here where fatigue kills and anything to help tired drivers would save lives.  Perhaps a solar generated warning system (distance to road edge?) would help when drivers start to doze off?

  • Monster

    Now here is a different idea besides increasing fines, and adding more speed cameras on the road. 

  • Wile E Coyote

    I would be happy if the glow in the dark signs would work.Just check those on the F3 north of Sydney.Old ,useless and dangerous.

  • Guest

    I’d imagine the road authorities will get numerous calls from misguided oldies complaining about the “radiation” that comes out of the paint and how it’s dangerous to their health yada yada yada.