Glow-in-the-Dark Road Project Hits Roadblocks
- 10 years ago
Glow-in-the-dark road markings that made their debut in the Netherlands, aren’t working out as well as transportation authorities had hoped.
Glow-in-the-dark road markings that made their debut in the Netherlands, aren’t working out as well as transportation authorities had hoped.
The project launched earlier in April, with the markings appearing on the N329 in Oss. The glow-in-the-dark pavement was supposed to serve as a money saving idea, replacing street lights that cost scads of money to keep lit.
In order to make the street glow at night, solar-powered photo-luminescent powder was mixed into the road paint. During the day it absorbs light and at night creates lines that are easily visible.
However since their installation, reports have surfaced regarding drivers who were so enchanted by the glow-in-the-dark effect, they shut their headlights off for a better experience. That posed a major danger to other motorists on the road.
Making matters even worse is the fact that the markings don’t take well to heavy amounts of moisture. Because of extensive rainfall in the area, the glow-in-the- dark paint had significantly dulled, making the lines hard to see.
The civil engineering firm behind the markings said they are currently working on a Glowing Lines 2.0 version, which will hopefully eliminate these problems. They have also faded out the existing lines to avoid confusion on the road.
Glow-in-the-dark road markings that made their debut in the Netherlands, aren’t working out as well as transportation authorities had hoped.
The project launched earlier in April, with the markings appearing on the N329 in Oss. The glow-in-the-dark pavement was supposed to serve as a money saving idea, replacing street lights that cost scads of money to keep lit.
In order to make the street glow at night, solar-powered photo-luminescent powder was mixed into the road paint. During the day it absorbs light and at night creates lines that are easily visible.
However since their installation, reports have surfaced regarding drivers who were so enchanted by the glow-in-the-dark effect, they shut their headlights off for a better experience. That posed a major danger to other motorists on the road.
Making matters even worse is the fact that the markings don’t take well to heavy amounts of moisture. Because of extensive rainfall in the area, the glow-in-the- dark paint had significantly dulled, making the lines hard to see.
The civil engineering firm behind the markings said they are currently working on a Glowing Lines 2.0 version, which will hopefully eliminate these problems. They have also faded out the existing lines to avoid confusion on the road.