Glow-in-the-dark markings trialled on Australian roads; part of RM12.5 million road safety package for Victoria

Glow-in-the-dark markings trialled on Australian roads; part of RM12.5 million road safety package for Victoria

Visibility is key road safety; to that end, Australian road construction firm Tarmac Linemarking has been selected by road transport safety authority VicRoads, along with safety surfaces company OmniGrip for the trial run of photo-luminescent (glow-in-the-dark) road markings on selected roads in the state of Victoria, Australia.

The application of the glow-in-the-dark road markings is part of a road safety programme by Regional Roads Victoria, and is one of three treatments in the state’s Innovative Package, for which AUD$4 million (RM12.5 million) has been invested for application at 70 locations across regional Victoria, as part of a larger AUD$245 million (RM763 million) allocation for the state’s road safety programme.

In a more recent Facebook post, Tarmac Linemarking stated residents “all across Gippsland, from Philip Island to the border” will get to experience roads treated with the glow-in-the-dark road markings.

Also part of Victoria state’s road safety innovation package is LED tactile paving (pictured), and high-reflectivity road marking paint

The second of three road safety treatments in the Australian state’s Innovative Package for its safety programme is road line markings with higher reflectivity, courtesy of the addition of thicker glass beads and thermoplastic to the linemarking paint.

Rounding up the trio of road safety treatments is LED tactile paving at controlled pedestrian crossings, which are LEDs on the pavement which follow the existing red (stop) and green (go) light signals for added visibility to pedestrians, particularly for those with diminished vision or those who are distracted.

What do you think of these road treatments, dear readers? Would these be beneficial to Malaysian road users?

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Mick Chan

Open roads and closed circuits hold great allure for Mick Chan. Driving heaven to him is exercising a playful chassis on twisty paths; prizes ergonomics and involvement over gadgetry. Spent three years at a motoring newspaper and short stint with a magazine prior to joining this website.

 

Comments

  • Mr Fakta on May 23, 2022 at 3:42 pm

    Coincidentally this project will cause AUD 12.5 million in Malaysia and markings will faded away in 2 months time.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 19 Thumb down 1
    • Kapchai on May 23, 2022 at 3:54 pm

      I think it will fade @ Australia road too,
      Burning money project.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
    • Aura89 on May 23, 2022 at 4:04 pm

      In some parts of Australia, roads can suddenly just end. You see a tarmac strip running until it abruptly disappears. True story.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 1
    • ThePolygon on May 23, 2022 at 9:13 pm

      Outsourced ‘contractor’ to repaint every month.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Engineer on May 24, 2022 at 1:16 am

      Indeed. With our harsh weather, high heat, high humidity, frequent heavy rains and heavy road usage, it would be a stoke of luck if any markings can survive intact for 3 months.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Thinking this thing on May 23, 2022 at 3:53 pm

    Does it work?

    Current road paints are already reflective, Glow-in-the-dark, would it be as dim as the Clock/Watch? Or stronger than the one used @ Rolex Watch Chromalight?

    Unless the road markings are LED Strips.
    Meanwhile, We already had the Solar LED blinking Road Stud.

    1 to 2km Ahead, Multiple Motion Sensor might work better.
    If the road is so unused.

    Is this a Australia’s White Elephant Project?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 0
    • Aura89 on May 23, 2022 at 4:08 pm

      There are already concerns about our global light pollution and such projects serves to merely ramp up the hate factor since these glo strips will be located in rural areas where night is truly night.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • GenY AEB on May 23, 2022 at 4:33 pm

        @ malaysia rural roads when it is @ truly dark situation,
        Good Road markings are extremly visible by its reflective nature.

        Many still speeding at 80-100km/h @ Malaysia rural roads that doesn’t come with the street lights. A fresh Glo-in-the dark strips, more like a fancy thing decorating for the Park/Night Safari Zoo instead of street. Guiding ppl @ roads, instead of guiding a fast vehicle.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
        • Safety First on May 24, 2022 at 8:46 am

          Even with good lighting and signages, some people still speed and mow down 8 kids. It is not the lighting or signage but the driver mentality that is important. Drivers must THINK SAFTY FIRST.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 2
  • wakaka on May 23, 2022 at 3:56 pm

    hahahahaha, enough malaysians have migrated to australia and started to infiltrate their administration, as a result you start to get nonsense projects like this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 14 Thumb down 2
    • Casual reader on May 24, 2022 at 7:53 am

      Ahh i see now we know where our nonsense projects came from

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Please spend the money to fix the more critical things first before installing these fancy stuff
    1) Road irrigation (flood prevention)
    2) Pot Holes
    3) Faulty traffic lights
    4) Beef up the road and flyover construction safety protocol

    All these are more critical than “glow in the dark markings”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • Aura89 on May 23, 2022 at 4:13 pm

      A key issue about road usage danger in Aussie is the vast amount of roadkill caused by animal intrusion onto tarmac. Anthony Albanese will need to do something as this had been neglected by past PMS so much that Aussie gave up and gave birth to the unique frontal crash bars & structures you see mounted on cars & road train trucks. We’re not talking about small dogs or snakes but wombat the size of logs and roos the size of cows.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 1
    • Sabrikor,Ajibkor,Hamidikor (SAH) on May 23, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      Now lobbyists will be at the relevant kementerian lobbying for big contracts for these ‘glow’products.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
  • The problem in Malaysia is our tendency to paint over the existing lines black, and paint new white lanes. All’s dandy until it rains at night and the reflections of the black paint is practically indistinguishable from the new white lines. Just look at the East-West link outside Taman Desa and the criss-crossing lane markings!

    I believe some countries would remove the markings but that’s probably too expensive or we are using the quick and easy way out.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • the driver on May 23, 2022 at 8:26 pm

    Fancy project that chooses to ignore existing technology – retro reflective paint that uses glass beads have been in use for decades and is much brighter than glow lines. Probably cheaper and longer lasting.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • Some people here don’t seem to realize that, sufficient lengths of the current markings are visible only if you turn on high beam. That is, without high beam, you can hardly see anything. But with high beam, the approaching driver can hardly see anything.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Sick&Tired on May 24, 2022 at 9:04 am

    This will cost 4 or 5 times more if introduced in Malaysia! Birkin bags price going up la!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 3
    • Brian on May 24, 2022 at 10:52 pm

      This PH cytro dare to complain about others but did not bring any relevance about automotive here. Small wonder why PH are becoming irrelevant by the day.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
  • Sick&Tired on May 24, 2022 at 9:07 am

    We should not worry about trivial matters such as road safety and the economy. What’s important is that Bahasa Melayu becomes the official language of South East Asia!!! After that we conquer the world!!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 5
 

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