October is the month for scary things, and one of the most frightening is not being able to see the lines on the road when it’s pouring rain or foggy outside.
We know that multi-car pileups often happen in these weather conditions. Even with reflective paint on the lines, visibility at night, especially for seniors, can be terrifying if those lines are covered or practically invisible.
But as technology progresses, solutions are being created to help eliminate this terror. A Dutch company called Luxene has created a solution to this problem.
It’s replacing the traditional reflective road markings with continuous light lines that remain visible in all conditions, while still preserving the normal reflective behavior you’re used to seeing on the road.
It’s not about flooding the night with more light but rather using the lines to guide you along the road. It’s called active light guidance and features an integrated laser-powered fiber system embedded in the road but doesn’t require constant maintenance or upkeep because no active electronics are actually in the road. All serviceable components are housed off the pavement.
Luxene notes that its system consumes significantly less energy, roughly 30% less, than most lighting, lowering cost and CO2 emissions. It also claims that this system cuts maintenance and material waste up to 80%, emits minimal light pollution and uses sustainable, modular components designed for circularity.
While this is still in the development stage, Luxene will start with piloting the system on Dutch roads in early 2026, starting first on bicycle paths and rural roads, where lack of lane markings and difficulties seeing in bad weather are big causes of fatal accidents.
Once the pilot programs have proved successful, the system will expand to smart cities, airports and industrial campuses by 2027. We could see the technology in the U.S. hopefully soon after that.
A system like this may make it easier for seniors to drive at night — something most of us avoid as we age due to reduced visibility — which would be a big advantage to us all.
