Glow-in-the-Dark road markings too costly for widespread use

Malaysia's trial of glow-in-the-dark road markings has encountered significant hurdles, primarily due to the technology's high cost. A pilot project conducted last November on a 245-meter stretch of road between Jalan Sungai Lalang and Jalan Sungai Tekali revealed that the glow-in-the-dark markings did not meet expectations.

“The cost is too high, so we are probably not going to continue with the glow-in-the-dark lanes," Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan explained. He further clarified that the project “did not satisfy the experts from the ministry."

While the Selangor state government initially considered expanding the technology to 15 more locations, the exorbitant costs of implementing it remain a significant barrier. Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasized the issue, stating that the photo-luminescent paint used for these markings costs RM749 per square meter, a stark contrast to the RM40 per square meter for traditional road marking paint. 

This makes glow-in-the-dark road markings a whopping 20 times costlier than standard paint, further complicating the government's decision to implement the technology on a larger scale.

Despite the promising concept, the high installation costs and the limited success of the pilot project have made the technology unsustainable for now. The government will likely explore more cost-effective solutions for road safety in the future.

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