Imagine driving down a remote Australian highway at night, the darkness enveloping everything except the vibrant glow emanating from the road itself. This isn’t a scene from a futuristic movie; it’s a potential reality for Australian travellers, thanks to an innovative glow-in-the-dark paint that could soon illuminate our roads, footpaths, and even airports.
Australia’s vast road network stretches across some of the most isolated regions on the planet. For those who’ve ventured on long road trips or off-road adventures, it’s clear that many critical paths lack proper lighting, posing a significant safety risk. Recognising this issue, Transport for NSW initiated a trial of this luminescent technology on a notoriously dangerous highway, aiming to enhance driver safety by making line markings more visible in low-light conditions.
The potential applications for this glow-in-the-dark technology are extensive. Industry pioneers envision its use on a variety of surfaces, including roads, footpaths, bike paths, helicopter landing pads, and airstrips. The goal is to improve visibility and, consequently, safety for all.
Clive Todd, the founder of Lihten, became an advocate for road safety after experiencing a serious car accident. His mission is to see this innovative glow paint utilised ‘anywhere and everywhere’ it could make a difference. ‘I want it to be in the key places which would help save lives,’ he expressed to Yahoo News.
The urgency for such safety measures is underscored by recent statistics. Research by the Federal Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE) revealed that 1,300 people lost their lives on Australian roads in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year. Nighttime driving, particularly between 7:00pm and 10:00pm, was identified as the most dangerous, accounting for 34 per cent of road fatalities.
With the ambitious goal of achieving zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050, innovative solutions like luminescent paint could be a game-changer. Todd touts the paint’s environmental friendliness, energy-saving properties, and potential to save lives. Inspired by a footpath project in Saudi Arabia, Todd discovered a French supplier for the paint, known as LuminoKrom, and has since applied it to a footpath and bike path in Blacktown, Sydney.
The paint contains a chemical that glows after activation by sunlight, similar to the natural luminescence of fireflies or glow worms. However, the cost of implementation is a significant consideration. Todd argues that despite the expense, the value of increased safety and visibility is immeasurable.
Australia has already seen trials of this technology. In Victoria, a 1km section of Metong Road was outfitted with fluorescent line markings in a collaboration between Tarmac Linemarking, OmniGrip, and Vic Roads. However, the trial was discontinued after an evaluation concluded that the road safety benefits did not justify the costs of the $4 million scheme.
In New South Wales, the Bulli Pass trial uses the glow-in-the-dark thermoplastic feature on a small stretch of road. NSW’s Minister for Roads, John Graham, highlighted the importance of visibility for safe driving. ‘Data shows around a third of fatal crashes in NSW happen at night,’ he said. If the trial proves successful, there are plans to consider its application in other areas prone to crashes or near-misses.
As the Bulli Pass trial nears completion, many are eager to see the results. Could this be the dawn of a new era in road safety? Only time will tell, but the potential for glow-in-the-dark paint to revolutionise night travel in Australia remains promising.
This innovative technology could offer a fresh approach to enhancing safety on roads, footpaths, and airports. While trials continue, the broader application of this technology is still unfolding.
What are your thoughts on using glow-in-the-dark paint for road safety? Could it significantly reduce accidents, especially during night driving? Share your perspective in the comments below. We’d love to hear your views on this exciting development.
Also read: ‘Difficult to navigate’: A post about one city’s road signs causes a stir
