‘It could save people’s lives’: The road idea lighting up Australia (and it’s just the beginning)

More roads across Australia's most populated state could soon emit an eerie glow after dark.

An unusual safety trial tucked away on a notoriously steep pass quietly produced remarkable results.

Now, authorities are preparing to expand the experiment—but not everyone in the country has been convinced.


In December, a 200-metre stretch of Bulli Pass in New South Wales became the testbed for an innovative new type of road marking.

The steep descent—south of Sydney and frequently used by trucks and motorcycles—was known for its sharp bend and troubling safety record, with 125 near-accidents reported in just 12 months.

That danger zone is where Transport for NSW rolled out photoluminescent line markings designed to absorb sunlight by day and glow at night.


image1.png
Dangerous descent gets luminous safety upgrade. Image source: TfNSW


The goal was simple: help drivers ‘better see line markings’ at night or during bad weather, especially where street lighting wasn’t viable.

By June, authorities had noted a 67 per cent reduction in nighttime near misses at the site.

Community response was also strong, with 83 per cent of drivers surveyed reporting the glow gave them ‘increased peace of mind’ while navigating the bend.

‘The benefit of the glow was greatest in improving visibility beyond the range of vehicle headlights—increasing the visibility of the lines on the bend to just below daylight detectability when the glow was fully charged,’ a Transport for NSW spokesperson told Yahoo News.

They confirmed additional locations were now being reviewed for rollout due to the ‘early success’ of the Bulli Pass installation.

The technology has broader ambitions too, with advocates saying it could help Australia meet its zero deaths and serious injuries target by 2050.


Glow-in-the-dark line markings could eventually appear on footpaths, bike trails, helicopter landing pads and airport runways.

Clive Todd, founder of Lihten, previously shared his vision: ‘I want it to be in the key places which would help save lives… It’s environmentally friendly, it saves electricity and it could save people’s lives.’

But not every trial has shone so brightly.

In 2022, Victoria trialled the same concept over a 1-kilometre stretch of Metong Road in the state’s southeast.

However, a VicRoads spokesperson confirmed in July that the $4 million project had been scrapped.

An independent review found the safety benefits were not significant enough to justify further investment.

That outcome contrasted sharply with NSW’s glow road experiment, which appears poised to expand in the coming months.


If you found the idea of glow-in-the-dark road markings interesting, there’s more innovation on the horizon.

Another state is trialling a different kind of road technology—one that goes beyond paint and directly taps into real-time driver safety.

It’s a bold move that could completely change the way we experience the roads.

Read more: This Australian state is about to revolutionise road safety with groundbreaking technology—here’s how it’ll affect you

Key Takeaways

  • Photoluminescent markings absorb sunlight and glow at night to improve visibility.
  • NSW trialled the feature at Bulli Pass and saw a 67 per cent drop in nighttime near misses.
  • Community feedback revealed increased driver confidence and peace of mind.
  • Victoria trialled a similar system but discontinued it due to insufficient safety benefits.

Would you feel safer driving if the roads lit up after dark?
 

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I first saw this when I was reading about it being used overseas and thought it a brilliant idea, night driving I have always watched the lines coming towards me as a safety precaution this would make it a lot more easier and yes I watched the road and the cars ahead brilliant idea in my books.
 
I like this idea makes the roads more visible in very dark areas
 
It's about time this was introduced. I see so many roads where, not only at night, but also during the day, where it's almost impossible to the lines on the road. The road maintenance office needs to pick up their game and keep the lines clearly marked and visible
 
Great idea!! Buli Pass is difficult at night and this has made such an improvement to be able to see the road and the bends. Only wish that people would stick to the speed limit though and not treat it like a racetrack.
 
I travel Bulli Pass several times a day and night as I live in Wollongong and to be honest the lines are no brighter than the existing white lines! Additionally, the photo from Transport NSW, in this article has been enhanced as the lines on Bulli Pass are not broken lines but are a continuous line and are beside the existing line??? Also, given that Bulli Pass is in shade for the majority of the day, due to the trees and the escarpment, how long would it take to"charge " the lines fully to last 24hours? Additionally, as "near misses" are questionable given there are no official reports leads to the whole experiment and "findings" being questionable. Victoria dumped the idea so before Transport NSW decide to go crazy and spend $millions on painting new lines I suggest they look at real evidence rather than circumstantial. Also, what is the longevity of the paint?
Transport should spend the money on fixing the road damage due to potholes which cause damages to vehicles and cost lives!!!!
 
I drove on that road many years ago if you are doing the correct speed limit the bend is nothing and I had an old car not with all the modern safety features that my car has now the actual issue is some people just can't drive
 
I drove on that road many years ago if you are doing the correct speed limit the bend is nothing and I had an old car not with all the modern safety features that my car has now the actual issue is some people just can't drive
Have you driven the road from Nowra to Kangaroo Valley up and down Cambewarra Mountain?

A couple of nice hairpins there!
 
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Reactions: Colette 3799
If it works as shown in the above image, the why not?! If the image is photoshopped then perhaps more work on product is needed.
Surely like everything, the more you purchase the less the cost.
 
There used to be a standard on highways that the road edges were marked with "cats eyes" on bends, but with the poor maintenance of the verges and potholes most have disappeared as will this latest high tech innovation.
 
night time and rain would be brilliant especially where there are no street lights and bends in the road
 
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Reactions: PattiB
Years ago all the road markings were in yellow, easy to see in the wet and at night. Someone, decided in their "wisdom' to change the colour to white. On a wet day the lines merge into the shiny wet road. Bring back the yellow lines and put the cats eyes back on the edges and this should reduce the accidents and near misses.
 
I suspect maybe a special type of paint is used. I have noticed that even in Adelaide CBD on wet roads it can be difficult to see the lines on wet roads. I have seen Govt. cars sitting on a line or in two lanes at traffic lights when the road is wet, especially at night.
 

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