Goodbye to white lines? What are drivers talking about when they talk about the glowing road experiment?

What if white lines, which drivers depend on every day, weren’t safest after dark? The small but striking road trial that uses fluorescent markings at night raises questions about whether or not a simple colour change could improve visibility and decrease accidents.

You probably haven’t thought about road markings today – and that’s exactly the point. They are meant to be invisible, so that you do not notice them. You automatically follow them.

Imagine driving on a rural road in the dark with little or no lighting. The centre line fades, the reflections don’t look great and you have to rely heavily on your headlights. That’s the situation a small road experiment is trying to improve – not with smarter cars, but with road lines that actually glow after sunset.

The idea sounds like it belongs in a concept film, but is being tested under real-life traffic conditions.

The glowing road is a small stretch that has sparked interest

In Malaysia’s Hulu Langat district, authorities painted a section of road – roughly 250 metres long – with fluorescent green markings instead of the usual white. It wasn’t just for show. The aim was to test whether drivers can follow the road comfortably even when visibility is reduced.

The paint absorbs sunlight during the daylight hours and emits a soft glow at night. Nothing dramatic – just enough to make the line stand out when the surroundings are dark.

The difference is noticeable on the parts of the road that are not lit by street lights. This small detail makes nighttime easier to navigate. Driving Feel a little less insecure.

Even in rainy weather, visibility remained good. This is when traditional markings often struggle.

This is more important on quieter roads compared to motorways

The experiment does not really target well-lit, busy roads with clear markings. The real focus is on secondary and rural routes – the kind where lighting is patchy, lanes are narrow and a clear centre line is essential.

It is easy to lose sight of a dividing line on these roads. Drivers can drift into the path of traffic ahead without realising. It’s not usually dramatic – just subtle misjudgement – but it’s enough to increase risk.

It could help to reduce this uncertainty if a line is drawn that remains visible, without having to rely solely on the headlights. The trial was designed with this in mind.

Other countries have also explored similar ideas. Australia The Netherlands and other countries have tried out glow-based markings for different purposes. They’ve even extended the concept to pedestrian and cycle paths where a clearer visual guide can help prevent confusion.

There is a major drawback to this: It’s much more costly

If glowing lines seem like an easy safety win, there’s one reason they’re not everywhere already – cost.

The traditional white paint is easy to maintain, cheap and quick to apply. Fluorescent alternatives cost significantly more, making it impossible to cover entire roads with them.

It doesn’t mean that idea is dead. It just means it would likely be used selectively – in places where visibility is genuinely problematic or where installing full street lighting would cost even more.

Glow lines are not a universal solution, but rather a targeted one.

Spain has already used visual tricks in order to influence driving behavior

Although Spain has not tested fluorescent centrelines, the road authorities are well-versed in using visual design to increase safety.

The triangular markings on the roadside are known as “Dragon’s tooth” is painted on the road to make it appear narrower. This encourages drivers to slow down. The purpose of zigzags near crossings is to encourage drivers to take extra care.

These measures show that small visual changes in the road environment can have a significant impact on driver behavior without major infrastructure upgrades.

Glowing road lines are currently an interesting experiment and not an impending change. Still, the idea highlights something easy to overlook – even the simplest parts of the road are still evolving.

If a slight glow can help drivers feel more confident when driving on dark roads, it is easy to see why this concept is gaining attention.