Malaysia halts glow-in-the-dark road pilot due to high cost and limited safety gains.

Malaysia has paused its glow-in-the-dark road marking pilot in Semenyih, Selangor, launched in 2023 to reduce nighttime accidents, due to high costs—up to 19 times more than traditional paint—and limited safety benefits. Though early trials showed the markings glowed for up to ten hours and remained visible in rain, officials cited rapid degradation from tropical weather, vehicle headlights washing out the glow, and poor cost-effectiveness. Similar global trials in the Netherlands and Australia were discontinued, while New South Wales reported a 67% drop in near-misses, prompting further review. No U.S. states are currently planning such projects, and authorities continue to emphasize driver awareness and proven safety practices for nighttime driving.