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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsMalaysia’s Hulu Langat glow-in-the-dark road markings were a limited pilot, not a nationwide substitute for streetlights. In November 2024, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan said further use was unlikely because the markings cost far more than conventional paint and had not satisfied ministry experts. The public account did not identify a specific physical defect or publish detailed test results.
What Malaysia installed in Hulu Langat
The Hulu Langat District Public Works Department installed the trial at the intersection of Jalan Sungai Lalang (B19) and Jalan Sungai Tekali (B16) in Selangor. The Ministry of Works described a 245-metre road segment with 490 metres of painted markings. The stated aim was to improve guidance at night on unlit roads, not to demonstrate a reduction in crashes. The ministry’s 17 November 2023 announcement described the markings as an alternative to road studs, also known as cats’ eyes.
The system combined yellow, light-reflective markings made with high-intensity prismatic sheet material and a phosphorescent component. The reflective element was intended to return light, while the phosphorescent material was designed to absorb energy from sunlight or vehicle headlights and emit visible light afterward. That is different from road lighting: the marking does not generate continuous illumination.
What was the hidden problem?
The publicly reported problem was a combination of high cost and a test outcome that did not satisfy ministry experts. On 22 November 2024, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan told Parliament, “The cost is too high, so we are probably not going to continue with the glow-in-the-dark lanes.” He also said, “We ran tests, but it did not satisfy the experts from the ministry.” Paul Tan’s Automotive News report attributed the comparison to ministry figures: RM749 per square metre for photoluminescent markings versus RM40 per square metre for conventional road-marking paint—nearly 19 times as much by those figures.
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Those are reported unit costs from the November 2024 account, not current supplier quotations or a complete lifecycle-cost comparison. The report did not disclose the test protocol, numerical visibility readings, durability results or a specific technical failure. It therefore does not establish that the markings peeled, faded, failed in rain or caused accidents; the precise reason they fell short of expert expectations was not made public in the sources cited here.
What the available evidence does—and does not—show
Driver perceptions
A 2024 questionnaire study by Hadi Farhan Semadi and Mohd Fairullazi Ayob surveyed 51 people with experience driving at night. Respondents considered glow-in-the-dark markings appropriate for improving visibility in low-light conditions. That finding reports participants’ views; it is not a measured road-safety or engineering result. The journal article does not establish that the Hulu Langat trial reduced crashes or how long its markings lasted.
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- Ideal for Outdoor Use On: Surfaces: Asphalt, Pavement, Concrete, Sports Courts .Applications: Road & Pavement Marking, Driveways, Pickleball Courts, Stairs, Curbs, Warehouses, Docks
Performance depends on conditions
The study’s literature review notes that luminous performance can depend on material, environmental conditions and maintenance, and that glow may contribute little where external lighting is already ample. It also points to a lack of long-term studies. These are general considerations, not confirmed causes of the Hulu Langat pilot’s outcome. The paper mentions glass beads as a material to assess; it does not show that they solved this pilot’s cost or performance issues. The full-text article provides that broader discussion.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to judge a glow-marking proposal
The Hulu Langat account does not provide comparable measured results for photoluminescent paint, conventional markings, road studs and street lighting across operating conditions. For a construction or transport authority assessing such options, the relevant questions include:
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- Visibility: How well can drivers see the marking in darkness and rain, and how does it perform after a period without sunlight or headlight exposure?
- Durability: How does it hold up under traffic, weather and routine road maintenance?
- Upkeep: What inspection and maintenance intervals are required, and what happens when performance declines?
- Whole-life cost: How do installation, maintenance and replacement costs compare over the expected service life—not just per square metre at installation?
- Site fit: Is the road unlit, and would the marking add useful guidance under the site’s actual lighting and traffic conditions?
These are evaluation criteria, not results established for Malaysia’s pilot. The reported price gap alone cannot answer whether a system is economical over its full service life.
Quick Recap
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