Glow-in-the-dark line markings will be trialled on Bulli Pass, south of Sydney, before being assessed for a wider rollout in NSW.
The photoluminescent painted markings absorb and store sunlight during the day and glow at night, helping drivers better see line markings and the shape of the road ahead.
Glow Roads are designed to improve night-time visibility, helping markings stand out in adverse weather, and provide a safe alternative at sites where street lighting is not practical.
The hairpin turn on Bulli Pass will be the first place in the state to get the glow treatment.
The location was chosen after a spike in near-miss incidents between 9pm and 4am, with 125 near-misses recorded in the year to June 30.
Bulli Pass is heavily used by large trucks and motorcycles and the new line markings will be installed part way down the steep descent to increase awareness of the sharp bend. A glow sign will also be installed.
The trial will run for six months, after which data and customer insights will be reviewed to determine whether to extend the trial or implement the Glow Road technology on other parts of the state’s road network.
Rigorous testing of glow roads has been undertaken at Transport’s Future Mobility Testing and Research Centre in Cudal to ensure the innovation is suitable for Australian conditions.
Different modes of transport were put through their paces, with a car, truck, motorbike and bicycle tackling the controlled ‘glow’ course. Skid testing was also undertaken to check Glow Roads’ had the same level of slip resistance as current line markings.
Minister for Roads John Graham said:
“Line markings might not be the first thing we think about in terms of innovation, but this is a bright idea and we are excited to trial its benefits.
“Being able to see the shape of the road ahead is critical to safe driving and that’s what Glow Roads do.
“Data shows around a third of fatal crashes in NSW happen at night. If this trial is deemed a success, we will look at its application on other locations with a history of crashes or near-misses where better visibility is needed.
“Bulli Pass has had a rising number of near-misses – particularly at night- so using Glow Roads to improve driving conditions will help the thousands of motorists who rely on this busy route.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:
“Glow Roads is an exciting new alternative for areas where street lighting may not be practical – many of our regional and rural roads face this challenge.
“Locals know this road – and others like it across the state – can have visibility plumet in seconds when fog or a storm rolls in, and I’m excited to see how this innovation performs in those conditions, too.
“This initiative offers an energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solution on regional roads with limited or non-existent street lighting.”
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said:
“The Glow Roads is the brainchild of one of our transformation teams here at Transport who – trying to find a solution to boost safety at remote or isolated sites – pitched the idea at an in-house innovation challenge.
“Improving road safety is a massive priority for everyone across at Transport – so we jumped on the opportunity to put this ‘bright idea’ to the test.
“Before rolling ‘Glow Roads’ out on public roads, we tested the new line markings and glow paint under a range of conditions at our Future Mobility testing site to make sure it was ready for the next phase of the trial.”