Last week we published an article regarding studies that found digital billboards are a safety liability. The studies were conducted by European and American groups that found out digital billboards distracts drivers at critical junctions for up to 3 seconds. So we’re curious why the Netherlands chose to fund and build a highway that has extra bells and whistles that can total out to lots of driver distraction.
What is it? A futuristic highway that can save energy and improve road safety is set to be installed in the Netherlands by mid-2013.
Two companies, Studio Roosegaarde and Heijmans Infrastructure, came up with the highway, which includes: glow-in-the-dark road markings painted with photo-luminescent paint which are charged during the day and light up during the night; temperature-responsive paint which indicates slippery roads when temperatures fall below zero; and interactive lights along the highway that light up as cars approach. Wind lights that light up using the draft produced by cars and priority induction lanes that can recharge electric cars as they run along them also feature.
The luminous road markings and weather indicating roads will debut in the Dutch province of Brabant in the middle of next year. The wind powered and interactive lights along with the induction lanes are also planned to go into service in the next years.