As the sun sets on the Australian horizon, a new dawn of road safety is emerging.

A state is set to illuminate the path to safer night-time driving with an innovative trial that could revolutionise how we navigate our roads after dark.

This groundbreaking initiative addresses the growing concerns around visibility and accidents during nighttime hours, offering a potential blueprint for other regions to follow.

This week, drivers traversing the Bulli Pass, a stretch of highway notorious for its dangerous conditions, witnessed a change designed to combat the alarming rate of near-misses that have plagued the area.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has implemented glow-in-the-dark road lines, a cutting-edge solution to enhance motorists' visibility in low-light situations.

Glow-in-the-dark road lines are being trialled by Transport for NSW to improve safety and visibility at night. Credit: Transport for New South Wales

The photoluminescent painted markings, which absorb sunlight during the day and emit a luminous glow at night, are a novelty and a beacon of hope for improving driver safety.

‘The trial is set to begin Thursday, with installation taking place today and tomorrow during a planned closure for maintenance,’ a spokesperson said.

‘The markings will be around 200 metres long, around a sharp hairpin.’

The trial responds to the 125 near-accidents recorded in the year leading up to 30 June.

These glowing lines have been installed around a sharp hairpin bend on the Bulli Pass, frequented by large trucks and motorcycles.

This critical point requires increased awareness, and the trial also included a glow sign to alert drivers to the impending curve further.

This initiative has precedent. Victoria embarked on a similar journey in 2022, experimenting with fluorescent line markings along a 1km section of Metong Road.

However, the trial was discontinued after an independent evaluation concluded that the road safety benefits did not justify the costs of the $4 million scheme.

Despite Victoria's decision to halt the project, NSW remains hopeful.

With around a third of fatal crashes in the state occurring at night, the potential for glow-in-the-dark technology to save lives is significant.

NSW's Minister for Roads, John Graham, has expressed his enthusiasm for the trial, emphasising the importance of discerning the road's shape for safe driving.

If the trial proves successful, it could pave the way for a broader implementation of Glow Road technology across the state, particularly in locations with a history of crashes or near-misses where better visibility is crucial.

As we await the results of this six-month trial, Aussie drivers need to stay informed and adapt to the changes on our roads.

The glowing lines are a step towards a brighter future for road safety, but it's up to us to remain vigilant and drive responsibly, especially during the night.

Key Takeaways

• Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is trialling glow-in-the-dark road lines along a dangerous highway to increase driver safety and visibility at night.
• Before considering a wider rollout, The photoluminescent markings will be assessed for six months at Bulli Pass, south of Sydney.
• The trial area has been chosen due to many near-misses, with 125 recorded in the past year.
• While Victoria discontinued a similar trial due to insufficient road safety benefits, NSW authorities are optimistic and will determine its success based on data and customer insights.

Do you think glow-in-the-dark road lines will improve safety? Would you support more trials for better night-time visibility? Feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

 

[Zemo]

They already have teams of workers who do nothing but paint roadmarkings so why not just change the paint? The effective cost is nothing!

Too simple, even for the simple minds who are running the country.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

Well it is about time Australia caught up with the rest of the world, other countries especially Europe have had these road markings for a very long time, mainly in low visibility area's like in the mountains, because of snow.

 

[Zemo]

Well it is about time Australia caught up with the rest of the world, other countries especially Europe have had these road markings for a very long time, mainly in low visibility area's like in the mountains, because of snow.

Well, you can't expect university-class thinking from Year 10 graduates.

 

[Veggiepatch]

Well it is about time Australia caught up with the rest of the world, other countries especially Europe have had these road markings for a very long time, mainly in low visibility area's like in the mountains, because of snow.

Line markings on roads aren't much use when they are covered in snow....

Photoluminescent or not!

 

[harveja]

Excellent idea all roads should be marked this way especially county highways as you can’t always use high beam. I vote for Australia wide

I agree should be standard Australia wide. Would make night driving safer in towns and rural.

 

[Towing]

They also need to get them checked to ensure they’re at the correct level. A lo are running around with them dipped, but because they aren’t adjusted to the correct angle, they’re hitting other drivers in the eyes and blinding them.
i often wonder how many single vehicle accidents are in fact caused by this

We had a problem with our lights being incorrectly set on a brand new car (collected that day) On standard (low) beam the passenger side the beam was set to light the road in front of the centre of the car and it was far too low.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

Line markings on roads aren't much use when they are covered in snow....

Photoluminescent or not!

That is true BUT aren't they a good idea, you can see them very clearly, no excuse for going on the wrong side of the road in clear weather, and misty. Of cause snow would cover them that is why they invented snow ploughs.

 

[Towing]

And how about fixing all the big potholes, there even on the freeways, so dangerous especially at night, you just can't beat the old Roman road that were built centuries ago in the UK no technology back then, these days they just don't know how to build roads, they fill the pot holes with muck and no wonder they don't last. If a driver damages their car by hitting a pot hole then it should be Vic roads to pay for the damage.

We had a road in suburban Adelaide that had a huge pothole. You could see the small rocks / very large gravel that was the base under the road. Instead of fixing it first when they sprayed it to cover some cracks they simply sprayed across the pothole. In bad visibility it was hard to see and a road hazard.

What a simply amazing solution to a serious problem.
Roll this out across the country now.
I can't see any reason you would need a trial for this. It will obviously make night driving far safer.
It's not like we aren't paying enough in road associated taxes now is it?

In SA we are charged 2 levies on fuel + GST. Where is the money from that being spent - certainly not on road......and they should use SA company contractors. A few years ago a road near Henley Beach Road in suburban Adelaide the trucks were registered in WA and some of the workers had come to Adelaide just for that job.

 

[Chicky]

Damn I was hoping they were going to fix all the potholes and yes I know I'm dreaming.

 

[Catherines]

WOW! Four million bucks to paint some lines on a one-kilometre stretch of road. Where can I get a job like that? Next, I suppose the greenies will be out in force reckoning that the kind of paint used is harmful to the eight-eyed red-backed travelling ant ...

Not so much as where we can get a job like that but give us the ‘recipe’ so to speak so we can start up a company and make money from sale of the paint to the government. I’m sure someone is making big bucks on the government. These road markings are done by usually one driver (& a number of on-lookers!!!) in a big vehicle that has a regulated system which drops the paint in specific quantities at regulated distances for each strip. Just like the other council road workers - 2 to 3 do the actual job, 3 sit around, 2 drive them there and then back to the depot, 2 unload and re-load the truck & 2-4 sit around having morning tea!!!

Then after all that the roads are just thinly re-surfaced and we ratepayers go back to square one with potholes reappearing after the first heavy rains. We pay our own way when it comes to repairs to our cars damaged due to potholes etc while those in their ivory towers get their car repairs and regular maintenance paid for from the taxes they increase and raise on us each year.

WOW! Four million bucks to paint some lines on a one-kilometre stretch of road. Where can I get a job like that? Next, I suppose the greenies will be out in force reckoning that the kind of paint used is harmful to the eight-eyed red-backed travelling ant ...

Good one!

 

[Catherines]

And how about fixing all the big potholes, there even on the freeways, so dangerous especially at night, you just can't beat the old Roman road that were built centuries ago in the UK no technology back then, these days they just don't know how to build roads, they fill the pot holes with muck and no wonder they don't last. If a driver damages their car by hitting a pot hole then it should be Vic roads to pay for the damage.

I agree - all states should pay for damage to our cars due to potholes that have not been fixed or fixed pathetically with just a thin layer of tarmac which deteriorates after the next rains.

 

[Towing]

Damn I was hoping they were going to fix all the potholes and yes I know I'm dreaming.

Yes, you are probably dreaming. Maybe they will do them faster if the politicians make promises, but will they keep them?

 

[freedy50]

I think there should be a review of Pollies retirement pay-outs. OK I wouldn't like their job but we have to pay taxes to get a retirement pension and when we leave work it does not automatically carry on as a benefit. Why do Pollies, particularly those who have only served one term, have such great retirement funds and are still allowed to work and earn even more money!!

They're MP's, it's part of their job. Maybe change career and become an MP if you're jealous of what they get?

And this is the proper version about their pensions. Not rumours off the internet!!

Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Scheme | Department of Finance

Information Pamphlet The legislative basis for the Scheme is the Parliamentary Contributory Superannuation Act 1948 (the PCS Act); this pamphlet has no legal authority. Print Version Parliamentary Pamphlet Parliamentary Pamphlet Who can be a member? Membership of the Parliamentary Contributory...

www.finance.gov.au

 

[Towing]

I imagine members of parliament possibly invest a fair amount of their pay into superannuation plans.