Malaysia’s glow in the dark roads failed because the paint cost far more than expected

Published on 30 April 2026

The futuristic paint was impressive, but painfully expensive

Malaysia’s pilot glow-in-the-dark road markings aimed to boost night driving safety and cut energy use, using luminous paint on roads in Hulu Langat. But the project ran into a practical obstacle: the innovative material cost far more than standard road markings. With budgets in mind, authorities are now reverting to traditional maintenance instead of scaling the tech.

Glow-in-the-dark markings were tested in Hulu Langat to improve night safety
Officials found the luminous paint significantly more expensive than standard markings
The pilot showed potential, but costs stopped broader rollout
Malaysia will maintain traditional road markings going forward

#public safety #costs #technology #malaysia #infrastructure

Read the full story at The Economic Times

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Malaysia’s glow in the dark roads failed because the paint cost far more than expected

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