In late 2023, Malaysia launched an innovative project: painting some of its roads with luminescent paint. Nearly a year later, however, the Malaysian government appears to have decided against continuing with the glow-in-the-dark initiative due to high costs. It raises the question: Did no one consider this before?
Pilot. The pilot program began in mid-November 2023 when the Malaysian government announced its plan to highlight road markings using photoluminescent paint that glows in the dark. Authorities said that this initiative was particularly suitable for dark areas lacking street lighting.
These lines can glow for up to 10 hours. Even during heavy rain, they emit a glow to enhance visibility and help drivers stay in their lanes. The difference is clear: The photoluminescent lines look much better than traditional white lines and even outperform reflective indicators.
The project garnered attention. Initially, only 800 feet of road were painted at a single intersection, which involved about 1,600 feet of markings, but other regions soon began conducting their own trials.
Almost 20 times more expensive than expected. Problems began to arise almost immediately. The Malaysian Ministry of Works had already warned that it would closely monitor the outcomes of the pilot program. It also said it would consider the feasibility of using the new paint on additional roads, given the high cost of this innovative paint.
Unfortunately, the high price has become a major inconvenience. According to the Ministry of Works, conventional paint costs about $1 per square foot. In contrast, photoluminescent paint costs $16 per square foot, an increase of 1,500%.
Applying the brakes. Despite the initial enthusiasm from the public, Malaysia’s deputy works minister Ahmad Maslan recently said that it’s unlikely the government will keep using the glow-in-the-dark paint due to its high cost. “The cost is too high, so we are probably not going to continue with the glow-in-the-dark lanes,” he explained.
This is particularly surprising given that, just months earlier, authorities had identified 31 roads for potential application of this paint. Maslan pointed out that the pilot tests didn’t meet the expectations set by the ministry’s experts but didn’t elaborate on those expectations.
Concerns. This situation has sparked questions regarding budget priorities and safety. It’s important to note that the areas intended for the paint application are wooded and poorly lit, posing dangers for both pedestrian traffic and potential encounters with wildlife.
Additionally, according to local media, citizens are speculating whether authorities knew about the high-cost issues before the pilot project was launched. Malaysians have also raised questions about the paint’s unmet expectations and have speculated that someone may have benefited financially from the initial contract.
Image | Alexander Nanta Linggi | Azlim Mansor/Bernama
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