The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Malaysia did not replace streetlights nationwide with glow-in-the-dark roads. In 2023, the Ministry of Works tested luminous road markings on a short, unlit stretch in Hulu Langat as a possible alternative to road studs. The pilot drew attention to a practical obstacle: a 2024 cost comparison put photoluminescent paint at nearly 20 times the price of conventional marking, and the deputy works minister said the trial had not satisfied ministry experts.
What Malaysia actually tested
The Ministry of Works said the Hulu Langat District Public Works Department carried out the pilot at the intersection of Jalan Sungai Lalang (B19) and Jalan Sungai Tekali (B16). The trial covered a 245-metre stretch and used 490 metres of road marking. Its intended setting was a dark route without streetlights, where markings might serve as an alternative to road studs, often called cats’ eyes. Ministry of Works Malaysia, 17 November 2023.
The ministry described a system that combined yellow light-reflecting properties from a High Intensity Prismatic Sheet with phosphorescent pigment. The pigment absorbs energy from sunlight or vehicle headlights and emits visible light afterward. That explains the design; it does not establish how bright or dependable the markings were across everyday conditions.
Did the markings improve road safety?
A 2024 study by Hadi Farhan Semadi and Mohd Fairullazi Ayob in Planning Malaysia surveyed 51 people with night-driving experience. Respondents considered glow-in-the-dark markings suitable for improving visibility in low-light conditions. That is evidence of driver opinion, not a controlled safety trial: the survey does not show that the Hulu Langat pilot reduced crashes or injuries. Semadi and Ayob, Planning Malaysia, 2024.
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The authors’ favorable assessment should also be read alongside the limits they discuss. Glow visibility depends on surrounding lighting, and long-term studies are lacking. The paper draws on earlier literature for performance and lifespan comparisons; those figures are not measurements of the Malaysian installation.
Why officials questioned continuing
In remarks in the Dewan Rakyat reported on 22 November 2024, Deputy Works Minister Ahmad Maslan said: “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.” The quotations were reported by paultan.org; the report does not give the ministry’s full technical evaluation or specify the experts’ failure criteria. paultan.org, 22 November 2024.
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- Non-Slip Safety Surface – The textured anti-slip surface provides strong grip, helping reduce the risk of slips and falls on asphalt, concrete, walkways, and high-traffic outdoor areas.
- Easy Installation – Clean and dry the surface, apply primer if needed（Smooth and flat surfaces do not require primer. For rough or porous surfaces, apply a commercially available primer layer and let it dry.）, peel and stick the tape, then press firmly with a rubber mallet or let slow vehicle roll straight over the tape (no turning). Install at 50°F–104°F (10°C–40°C) and allow light traffic after 1 hour and 25 hours before heavy traffic.
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The same report attributed a cost comparison to Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi: RM749 per square metre for photoluminescent paint, against RM40 per square metre for conventional road marking—nearly 20 times as much. These are figures reported in 2024, not confirmed current prices. The source does not establish that both figures cover identical installation scopes, so they should not be treated as a complete like-for-like life-cycle comparison.
Why published cost estimates differ
The Planning Malaysia article compiles a different comparison: RM40.57 per square metre for luminous marking and RM36.60 per square metre for conventional marking. It argues that possible reductions in streetlighting costs and a longer design life could offset higher upfront expense. Those are literature-based estimates and assumptions, not an audited cost evaluation of the Hulu Langat pilot; they do not reconcile with the minister-reported RM749 figure or show that the pilot achieved the claimed savings.
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The article also discusses a 66-month versus 42-month design-life comparison drawn from literature. It is not a service-life result measured on the Malaysian road. Without a common installation scope, verified local durability and maintenance data, and a defined analysis period, the published numbers cannot settle which treatment would cost less over time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What would establish whether luminous markings are worthwhile?
Road markings guide drivers; they do not illuminate the road environment in the same way streetlights do. A sound comparison with reflective markings, road studs or streetlighting would need to assess:
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- Visibility in darkness, rain and different levels of surrounding light.
- Installation and maintenance costs over the same defined period and scope.
- Field-measured durability and how often materials need replacement.
- Whether the treatment guides lane position alone or also makes hazards and surrounding road space visible.
- Crash and near-miss outcomes, rather than perceived visibility alone.
The available sources do not provide a complete, apples-to-apples comparison across those measures. Nor do they establish the project’s policy status after the deputy minister’s reported remarks in November 2024; that report supports saying continuation was in doubt then, not that the pilot was permanently cancelled.
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