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Glow-In-The-Dark Smart Highways Coming To the Netherlands In 2013

An anonymous reader writes "The Netherlands is moving forward with plans to build 'smart' highways that can become more easily visible in the dark or communicate weather conditions to drivers. Work will begin as early as next year. 'Special paint will also be used to paint markers like snowflakes across the road's surface — when temperatures fall to a certain point, these images will become visible, indicating that the surface will likely be slippery. Roosegaarde says this technology has been around for years, on things like baby food — the studio has just up-scaled it. The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed in the province of Brabant in mid-2013, followed by priority induction lanes for electric vehicles, interactive lights that switch on as cars pass and wind-powered lights within the next five years.'"

167 comments

  1. This technology would've been introduced long ago by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    but cautious corporate officials decided to wait for AOL Netscape's patent on the "blink" tag to expire.

  2. So... by symes · · Score: 3, Funny

    How will drivers see glow in the dark images when there is snow on the roads?

    1. Re:So... by pokoteng · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's often black ice that is invisible on the roads that causes slipping, rather than visibly obvious snow. That is probably what this targets. Snow is an obvious indicator that road is dangerous, and this paint fixes parts where you can't easily see that.

      --
      the game
    2. Re:So... by infogulch · · Score: 4, Insightful

      If there's enough snow on the road to cover up the paint, I really hope that drivers don't need a snowflake graphic to know that there is snow on the roads.

    3. Re:So... by oodaloop · · Score: 0

      Yeah, it's like the weather rock I had as a kid.

      If rock is wet, it is raining.
      If rock is white, it is snowing.
      If unable to see rock, it is foggy.

      --
      Tic-Tac-Toe, Global Thermonuclear War, and relationships all have the same winning move.
    4. Re:So... by p0p0 · · Score: 1, Informative

      The fact that there is snow would indicate that there might in fact be snow or ice on the road. Thanks for playing.

    5. Re:So... by JustOK · · Score: 0

      Only detects high winds, 'tho.

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
    6. Re:So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it's like the weather rock I had as a kid. If rock is wet, it is raining. If rock is white, it is snowing. If unable to see rock, it is foggy.

      Did it work?

    7. Re:So... by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 2

      And it keeps tigers away.

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    8. Re:So... by DarthBling · · Score: 1

      This would be great on bridges!

    9. Re:So... by JustOK · · Score: 1

      What about Ninja Tigers on holiday? You can never be sure.

      --
      rewriting history since 2109
    10. Re:So... by dinfinity · · Score: 1

      You know, bridges are actually one of the few places where this might make sense.

      Realistically though:
      "The Netherlands is moving forward with plans to build 'smart' highways" and "The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed" aren't really the same.

      This is where I stopped taking TFA seriously:

      "One day I was sitting in my car in the Netherlands, and I was amazed by these roads we spend millions on but no one seems to care what they look like and how they behave," the designer behind the concept, Daan Roosegaarde

      (my emphasis)

      Apparently, this visionary had to compete with 6 other entries: http://www.dutchdesignawards.nl/en/finalists/future_concepts/

      I'd have given it to one of the last two as they actually seem to be promising for improving the quality of life, but I guess 'glow in the dark smart highways' sounds better and more designy.
      Well, it got 'em on Slashdot..

    11. Re:So... by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      In that case: nuke it from orbit.

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
    12. Re:So... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't even know what the fuck this is supposed to be

      Judging from the pictures, it seems to be suggesting some kind of method for baking dirt into bricks for some purpose or another?

    13. Re:So... by nitehawk214 · · Score: 1

      I don't even know what the fuck this is supposed to be

      From the pictures, my guess is that being able to speak dutch would not help in figuring it out.

      --
      I'm a good cook. I'm a fantastic eater. - Steven Brust
  3. Dirt Proof? by parallel_prankster · · Score: 2

    What happens when a really dirty set of tires goes over these markings on the road continuously? If they are not visible, will that lead to more accidents? It seems like a "smarter" thing to do would be to somehow network these highways electronically or using WiFi or something so that you can then use the computer in your car or smartphone to get very localized information about the conditions on the road on which you are driving.

    1. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      All Dutch highways are inspected at least once per 24hrs with human eyeballs, so I do not expect this to be a problem.

    2. Re:Dirt Proof? by Lehk228 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      the point is that these coatings respond to surface conditions, rather than just local area averages. great for bridges and other areas which freeze first

      --
      Snowden and Manning are heroes.
    3. Re:Dirt Proof? by arisvega · · Score: 5, Insightful

      What happens when a really dirty set of tires [..] network those highways [..] use the computer [..] smartphone ..

      Relax, this is about Europe: most people there with cars actually already know how to drive them.

      --
      The three laws of thermodynamics:(1) You can't win. (2) You can't break even. (3) You can't even quit.
    4. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wait - what happens to all the stripes on conventional highways when all those filthy, dirty tires run over them continuously? Oh, right, nothing.

      I guess you haven't figured out that durability of the paint is the only issue - things on the road would tend to be ground away by friction rather than building up layers of grime on top. Also, rubber is remarkably good at removing grime. Like that thing on the end of your pencil, which generally does the opposite of depositing grime on your nice, clean paper.

      But seriously, why am I doing your thinking for you?

    5. Re:Dirt Proof? by houghi · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What happens when a really dirty set of tires goes over these markings on the road continuously?

      The same as happens with current signalization.
      I have never seen this to be an issue, so why would it be one now?

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    6. Re:Dirt Proof? by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 2

      What happens when a really dirty set of tires [..] network those highways [..] use the computer [..] smartphone ..

      Relax, this is about Europe: most people there with cars actually already know how to drive them.

      I know. Stuff like this can be hard to explain to people from a country where they actually ask if you can drive a car with a gearstick. I remember seeing an automatic in Europe once, and I thought "WTF is this?"

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    7. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > "What happens when a really dirty set of tires goes over these markings on the road continuously?"
      Well, my guess after a few seconds thought, would be that the dirt covers the markings for the next FEW meters while the dirt wears off the tires.
      Then a specialised cleaning system could come in to play to show the markings again. Lets call that 'rain'.

    8. Re:Dirt Proof? by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Wait - what happens to all the stripes on conventional highways when all those filthy, dirty tires run over them continuously? Oh, right, nothing.

      I guess you haven't figured out that durability of the paint is the only issue - things on the road would tend to be ground away by friction rather than building up layers of grime on top. Also, rubber is remarkably good at removing grime. Like that thing on the end of your pencil, which generally does the opposite of depositing grime on your nice, clean paper.

      But seriously, why am I doing your thinking for you?

      He's probably thinking of the road markings they have in California which disappear in the wet after dark. I don't know what kind of cheap pain they use in CA but it doesn't seem to have the same sparkle effect that striping has in the UK where, combined with cats' eyes, roads are lit up like a Christmas tree as soon as you shine your lights on them.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    9. Re:Dirt Proof? by parallel_prankster · · Score: 3, Funny

      Really, then why the hell are these paintings being developed? Why don't Europeans just drive properly through the black snow shit! I am tired of the Europeans can drive nonsense. The US just has far more drivers and far more emphasis on driving a person vehicle as compared to other countries and hence it gets a bad name. The point of this article is not that, the point in making these improvements is to remove any human errors out of the equation. Now what is the best way to provide current weather conditions to the driver. By painting the roads or via some technology in their car??

    10. Re:Dirt Proof? by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

      Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to actual driving currently. Roads already have lines and symbols on them that seem to stay pretty visible after literally billions of miles being driven over them by all manner of cars carrying all manner of dirt.

      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    11. Re:Dirt Proof? by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The US just has far more drivers and far more emphasis on driving a person vehicle as compared to other countries and hence it gets a bad name.

      Given how much 'emphasis' you say we put on driving, you'd think we'd be better at it no?

      Have you been to Europe? In Germany, it takes literally almost 2 years to get your license. Driving school is that long and costs a couple thousand dollars if memory serves.

      Compare that to the US where everyone gets their license after 20 minutes test consisting of a K-turn and nothing over 45 mph. Who do you think turns out better drivers?

      People routinely fail driving tests in Europe, because driving really is a 'privilege' and they make it hard to earn.

      We on the other hand let damn near anyone drive.

      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    12. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Da Fuck?

      Georgia only recently made people take their driving test on actual streets.

    13. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Have you been to Europe? In Germany, it takes literally almost 2 years to get your license.

      Some states in the US use a graduated licensing system, meaning you get a permit at age 15, can drive alone at 16, can have a passenger at 17, and finally are allowed to drive at night when it is not work or education related at the age of 18. It varies from state to state but it isn't as simple as

      everyone gets their license after 20 minutes test consisting of a K-turn and nothing over 45 mph.

      There is no state that has done this in the last half of a century. I can understand if you are not aware of it, but please don't throw things like this around as facts.

      People routinely fail driving tests in Europe, because driving really is a 'privilege' and they make it hard to earn.

      We on the other hand let damn near anyone drive.

    14. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In both California and Texas if the driver isn't of school age it's just a drive round the block, couple of stop signs and a parallel park. That and a common sense theory test. Hardly a challenge. School age may be harder, though.

    15. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All Dutch highways are inspected at least once per 24hrs with human eyeballs, so I do not expect this to be a problem.

      If those eyeballs are anything like an Americans, it won't matter if you have it being scanned once every 24 seconds...no one will give a shit enough to speak up.

      And I do mean no one.

    16. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Modern technology?

      In a couple of milleniums the alien archaeologists discover the remains of a vehicle. The report says "We didn't find any organic remains, but we can conclude that the creatures who used this device were, on average, slightly under two metres in height and had thee arms and three legs".

    17. Re:Dirt Proof? by khallow · · Score: 1

      I'd be concerned about snowplows. Fancy markings get scrapped off pretty fast. OTOH, it'd be good for places that rarely see snow, which sounds like part of the target audience.

    18. Re:Dirt Proof? by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

      Some states in the US use a graduated licensing system, meaning you get a permit at age 15, can drive alone at 16, can have a passenger at 17, and finally are allowed to drive at night when it is not work or education related at the age of 18.

      Yes and there's damned little TRAINING for said new drivers.

      here is no state that has done this in the last half of a century.

      Well, NY state did this in the 1980s because that was exactly my experience. A joke of a written test, literally 20 multiple choice questions followed by said road test lasting less than 30 minutes; exactly 1 K-turn included.

      Perhaps it's different now but I doubt it since the 'written' test is taken at electronic kiosks at DMV's here in VA.

      Even so, you have going on 50 years of drivers on the road now who learned that way and taught their kids through simply kids watching their parents cruise in the left hand lane, California stop, jabber on a cell phone, speed ridiculously, smoke, drink, and eat while driving.

      With damned little training.

      So would you say that passing on the right is good or bad driving? And is it legal? I learned from both my parents and drivers ed in school (not required) it was bad and you should stay right except to pass. Yet here in VA apparently it's perfectly legal.

      you were saying?

      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    19. Re:Dirt Proof? by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

      He's probably thinking of the road markings they have in California which disappear in the wet after dark.

      While he's complaining about road markings that....wait for it....GLOW IN THE DARK ;-)

      he's a moron.

      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    20. Re:Dirt Proof? by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, must be a bitch with all those northern roads that no longer have any markings on them at all by spring...oh wait, we have lines that seem to last just fine now under heavy plowing.

      Besides, we're talking about 'paint' here, it's not like it's hard to reapply even if it does wear off in some spots.

      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    21. Re:Dirt Proof? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you telling me you actually use your left foot to use the break pedal in america? No wonder you have all the "it automatically accelerated when i hit the break (and gas) and panicked" accidents. Poor car manufacturers. I feel sorry for them.

    22. Re:Dirt Proof? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Oddly, using the left foot on the brake pedal is fairly ordinary in racing. Some people manage to do it on the street without killing anyone, too. (I don't left foot brake, because I don't have racing seats and I need to use the dead pedal, but anyway.)

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    23. Re:Dirt Proof? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      everyone gets their license after 20 minutes test consisting of a K-turn and nothing over 45 mph.

      There is no state that has done this in the last half of a century. I can understand if you are not aware of it, but please don't throw things like this around as facts.

      I can see why you didn't log in; you know fuck-all. In California it's just about that easy. You don't even have to parallel park any more, you won't see the freeway, and so on. There is no required learner's permit period if you are over the age of 18. You walk in, take the test, pass the driving test, and they give you a license. You have to make an appointment anyway, so the whole process can literally be dispensed with in under an hour. I used my learner's permit literally twice before getting my license. I spent about half an hour dicking around in a parking lot with a friend, and then he had me drive his Aero-Bird straight to the twistiest highway around. I drove maybe once more in that car, and then I took the test in a lifted half-ton Chevy 4x4. I got dinged for "poor throttle control" because the chevy had poor throttle control (step, wait, wait, wait... there you go! maybe the TC was going) but I still passed.

      People routinely fail driving tests in Europe, because driving really is a 'privilege' and they make it hard to earn.

      In the USA, driving is a necessity, and therefore it's as close to a right as it can be, while still offering the opportunity to ruin someone's life by taking that right away, which is an opportunity the state always likes to have. Our government was complicit in the auto companies buying up and shutting down profitable public transportation systems, mostly bus and rail. It is not reasonable to expect people in the USA to exist without a car except in a very few cities. I grew up without one, my mom never had a car, and I could easily spend 1/4 of my waking hours just getting around a town that wasn't particularly large — and that only counts necessary activity. If you want to live in a world where most people can only engage in necessary activity, please go somewhere else and make your own world there.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    24. Re:Dirt Proof? by mcgrew · · Score: 2

      Now what is the best way to provide current weather conditions to the driver. By painting the roads or via some technology in their car??

      By having the technology in the road. Not everyone trades their car in every year, and some of us smarter ones buy our vehicles used. Mine's ten years old, I'll retire it when repairs start costing more than a car payment.

      If this tech were on my roads today, it would make me safer. But if it only came on brand new BMWs I'm SOL.

      Also, I don't know how well or badly Europeans drive, but I know for a fact that Americans drive REALLY bad.

    25. Re:Dirt Proof? by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Oddly, using the left foot on the brake pedal is fairly ordinary in racing.

      In racing it makes sense. On the street it's brain-dead stupid. First, just touching the brake makes the brake lights come on. Get behind one of these assholes and it's like following someone who has no brake lights. It's dangerous as hell. Second, the morons are wearing their brakes out prematurely, although that's their problem. Having their brake lights on when they're not braking IS my problem.

    26. Re:Dirt Proof? by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      Where did you come up with this gem anyway? His joke was about 3 pedals and 3 legs

    27. Re:Dirt Proof? by khallow · · Score: 1

      Yeah, must be a bitch with all those northern roads that no longer have any markings on them at all by spring...oh wait, we have lines that seem to last just fine now under heavy plowing.

      I doubt you do actually. Especially given stories like this.

      It is an epoxy based paint that is more reflective than paint used in years past. should last six to seven years.

      UDOT will conduct nightly lane closures between 600 North in Salt Lake City and 10600 South in Sandy. They'll cover up the lines nightly and lay down the new paint in small groves - about 1/8 of an inch deeper than the old paint. They hope it will help the paint stick better when snow scrapes over the top of it.

      Note that they're making grooves in the road and putting the paint, in a pretty thick layer in those grooves. Obviously, the smart road stuff would probably work similarly since something that sticks out gets scraped faster. But if a dumb and durable epoxy based paint lasts about seven years, then that probably is an upper limit on how long your smart stuff is going to last in significant winter conditions with snow plows.

      There's other doodads that fare worse than lines, for example, road reflectors, raised, reflective studs stuck on a road.

    28. Re:Dirt Proof? by pixelpusher220 · · Score: 1

      I grew up in the Buffalo/Rochester NY area, trust me, we had plenty of snow plows running and the lines stay pretty well. The OP worried about stuff getting scraped off 'pretty quickly'. Current lines do no such thing, they last for years as you note.

      The OP is one of many on this thread screaming 'change is bad!' and being refuted as such.

      --
      People in cars cause accidents....accidents in cars cause people :-D
    29. Re:Dirt Proof? by khallow · · Score: 1
      I am the OP. And no, I still disagree. While googling, I see high maintenance issues in New York state from road striping.

      For example, this 2011 story indicates the New York State Thruway (a toll highway which goes by both Rochester and Buffalo) used an old paint that had to be restriped every two years and replaced that with a new one that goes every three years.

      Such maintenance issues don't doom smart road markings. But they do indicate that there are tremendous wear processes on roads which are being ignored in this discussion. And that could mean a considerable maintenance cost which could rule out the technology (unless the part that wears is relatively inexpensive).

      The OP is one of many on this thread screaming 'change is bad!'

      And the "change is good" crowd apparently never considers that change often has drawbacks larger than the alleged benefits. My suspicion is that ideas for some variation of smart road markings has been around as long as there has been road striping. It hasn't taken hold for most applications simply because of the maintenance costs.

    30. Re:Dirt Proof? by parallel_prankster · · Score: 1

      Your answer was the only sensible one among the ones above and you actually provided a reason for going with one tech vs. the other- bravo!!

  4. Obligatory XKCD regarding the wind-powered tech by milbournosphere · · Score: 4, Insightful
  5. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you'd written "dike" instead of "dyke", maybe your joke would have been amusingly relevant instead of offensive.

  6. This is a bad idea, right? by Nationless · · Score: 4, Insightful

    High friction surface which requires constant work and they want to paint it in temperature sensitive markings which will get covered in sot and worn down in a heartbeat? Prolonging any and all road maintenance.

    Why not just have a sign painted in the same material which does the same job, except you can actually see it a lot easier?

    I do like the idea of glow in the dark roads for increased visibility, but not for reading the temperature.

    1. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by hawguy · · Score: 1

      High friction surface which requires constant work and they want to paint it in temperature sensitive markings which will get covered in sot and worn down in a heartbeat? Prolonging any and all road maintenance.

      Why not just have a sign painted in the same material which does the same job, except you can actually see it a lot easier?

      I do like the idea of glow in the dark roads for increased visibility, but not for reading the temperature.

      Because the sign 2 meters above the road surface is not at the same temperature as the road?

      If knowing the ambient temperature were sufficient, then it would be easier to have cars do the warning -- some cars already warn you when the outside temperature approaches freezing, but that still doesn't really tell you the temperature of the road surface.

    2. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by houghi · · Score: 2

      They are painting on the roads now. They will just use a different paint.

      And I would be very happy to know that the road is around 0C so I know to watch out for ice.

      Having that on the road, especially at night, will be a great addition to roadsigns. Why choose if you can have both?

      The snow part is not the nicest part. What I like is the glow in the dark lines. It could save a LOT of money in Belgium and other countries.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    3. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 2

      I do like the idea of glow in the dark roads for increased visibility, but not for reading the temperature.

      HAve you ever driven on clean black pavement in the rain at night, in a well-lit area?

      The reflections make it really hard to discern markings. I can only imagine that in the right circumstances, this will make it worse.

    4. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by mrbester · · Score: 2

      Then have sensors on the road. At the side, obviously, so they don't get smashed. The information is relayed to solar powered signs.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    5. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by viperidaenz · · Score: 2

      If only the paint could change the wavelength of the light, it would make it stand out more in the presence of reflected light. Wait, that's phosphorescence. Like glow in the dark paint.

    6. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by hawguy · · Score: 2

      Then have sensors on the road. At the side, obviously, so they don't get smashed. The information is relayed to solar powered signs.

      Because that negates the "no maintenace" part that the previous poster was talking about?

      The linked to article shows these snowflakes painted every meter or so along the road. A single kilometer would have hundreds of them. Maintaining a network of hundreds of solar powered temperature sensors sounds a lot more labor intensive that repainting the temperature indicating snowflakes periodically when they restripe the roads.

    7. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1

      High friction surface which requires constant work and they want to paint it in temperature sensitive markings which will get covered in sot and worn down in a heartbeat? Prolonging any and all road maintenance.

      Why not just have a sign painted in the same material which does the same job, except you can actually see it a lot easier?

      I do like the idea of glow in the dark roads for increased visibility, but not for reading the temperature.

      Do you come from some country where there's no lane markings?

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    8. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No its a fucking brilliant idea.

      And in case you haven't noticed, they already paint lines on the road, even put little reflectors in the road as well.

    9. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by mrbester · · Score: 1

      Repainting roads is a lot of effort and, unless they do it at low to zero traffic times (not here they don't), causes hassle for everybody. So it only gets done about once in ten years.

      Solar powered signs are low maintenance. There are hundreds on UK roads attached to speed radar sensors to annoy you as you approach (most seem to be set to go off even if you aren't speeding). Putting a SIM in them means they can call home so you know when one has failed. This stuff is *cheap* and just needs one guy in a van that needn't block anybody with a toolkit and some spare parts.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    10. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by hawguy · · Score: 1

      Repainting roads is a lot of effort and, unless they do it at low to zero traffic times (not here they don't), causes hassle for everybody. So it only gets done about once in ten years.

      Solar powered signs are low maintenance. There are hundreds on UK roads attached to speed radar sensors to annoy you as you approach (most seem to be set to go off even if you aren't speeding). Putting a SIM in them means they can call home so you know when one has failed. This stuff is *cheap* and just needs one guy in a van that needn't block anybody with a toolkit and some spare parts.

      In my area they already paint lines on the road, so having another truck (or the same truck) paint the temperature sensitive snowflakes at the same time as they stripe the rest of the road doesn't sound like a whole lot more work for the government or inconvenience to other drivers.

      The road around here where I think this could be useful is about 50 km long up a mountain pass, heavily used by out-of-area skiers who have little winter driving experience - if they put these solar powered sensors every 10 meters (since the snowflakes are painted every few meters), they'd have to maintain 5000 of them. I'm finding it hard to believe that 5000 solar powered sensors (especially if they are cellular enabled with SIM cards, which wouldn't even work on most of the road due to poor cell phone coverage) is "cheap" or easier to maintain than some snowflakes that get repainted periodically when they restripe the road.

      If you're talking about putting in the sensors every km or so, then it might be more affordable, while also being less useful than the painted indicators since microclimates, shade from the sun, underroad culverts, etc) can make a big difference in road temperature even across short distances.

    11. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the southern US they put down reflectors ... makes a world of a difference at being able to discern where the road is when the road is wet and it's nighttime. The excuse I've heard for not doing that in Northern states is that the snow plows would tear up the reflectors. But then I see a few roads (mainly the Interstates) where they did a slight groove down into the road and put the reflector in there. I've seen versions of that which result in useless reflectors and versions of that which result in reflects about halfway between useless and the ones glued onto the road surface. Huge huge safety feature. The reflective paint used for the road lines is only put down once a year and is worthless within two months of being put down (and never useful when the road is wet).

    12. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I love the signs on I-81 in Pennsylvania warning of "dense fog ahead"... you then continue to drive and there is absolutely no fog. Whether those are set by hand and left or there are actually sensors relaying info, dunno (some are the temp signs on the side of the road, but those are always there, so I figure they just haven't gotten the money to do a more permanent install) and some are the signs over the roadway).

    13. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe not on the signs 1.5m above the road where the temp may be different - but how about on the reflective markers that are on 95% of roads these days?

    14. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by mrbester · · Score: 1

      This is in the Netherlands, not exactly known for mountains, passes or skiers. Cellular coverage is also excellent throughout the country due to the dearth of hills.

      --
      "Wait. Something's happening. It's opening up! My God, it's full of apricots!"
    15. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The Netherlands has lots of big bridges and dams over big rivers, and local stretches of road exposed to wind that tend to freeze over much faster than others. Due to very unstable temperatures (in november-december mainly) snow typically doesn't remain for long, but the weather is humid and roads do remain wet and regularly freeze over after sunset. Most Dutch drivers do not use winter tires, but narrower tires that disperse water well, because winter tires are perceived to be more liable to aquaplaning. These markings make more sense there than in areas which remain white for months every year.

    16. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Gmooron · · Score: 1

      To the contrary, i find the cell signal is quite awful given the size and the flatness of the country.

    17. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by mcvos · · Score: 1

      We already have painted markings on our roads (lines mostly, but also the occasional arrow or speed limit), so that aspect isn't really anything new.

      Do you not have lines on your roads at all?

    18. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      In my area they already paint lines on the road, so having another truck (or the same truck) paint the temperature sensitive snowflakes at the same time as they stripe the rest of the road doesn't sound like a whole lot more work for the government or inconvenience to other drivers.

      The problem is that when you repaint them is that if you don't match the stencil up perfectly with the old stencil, you're going to have a bad time. Laying down a stencil and spraying it 5,000 times actually is going to take a bit of time and effort. Now, if the stencils could be laid down by a truck that was doing an imitation of an injket printer, maintenance would be fast and easy.

      If you're talking about putting in the sensors every km or so, then it might be more affordable, while also being less useful than the painted indicators since microclimates, shade from the sun, underroad culverts, etc) can make a big difference in road temperature even across short distances.

      Those "microclimates" shade and so on fall in known locations, and so that's where you put the sensor/light signs. Easy peasy.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    19. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We have the snowflake signs where I live and they simply place them in areas where it makes the most sense. Put up a sign and when it turns to a flake you know it could be slippery. The idea is to warn of a potential issue - you don't need perfect accuracy as long as it's indicating before the road completely ices over.

    20. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by thePowerOfGrayskull · · Score: 1

      And this will not itself reflect, adding more visual confusion?

      The problem I am referring to is not inability to discern the paint, but the fact of too much light already present. This will add more.

    21. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by Nationless · · Score: 1

      Not magical glow in the dark ones that can also display other information.

    22. Re:This is a bad idea, right? by mcvos · · Score: 1

      So they'll be using a different paint. From a maintenance point of view it's nothing new. Assuming the paint does what it's supposed to do and is good enough to use on the road.

  7. This technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    has been around for years, on things like baby food....

    And Coors Light beer cans.

  8. Interactive lights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    interactive lights that switch on as cars pass

    That sounds impressively unhelpful and annoying.

    1. Re:Interactive lights by jo_ham · · Score: 1

      interactive lights that switch on as cars pass

      That sounds impressively unhelpful and annoying.

      Why?

      I'm going to assume that it leads your vehicle by some distance, so that you are driving into lit road. If no cars pass for a short time, it turns off. I doubt it will literally come on as your car passes the particular light in question.

    2. Re:Interactive lights by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course it'll light up as you pass just below it. For the same reason these markings will be covered in dirt by tires full of dirt (from an herd of all terrain vehicles leaving the a big offroad convention perhaps?) : because engineers and scientists are dumbasses that can't see the FAIL in their design like a random slashdot armchair specialist can.

  9. Great for tourism by Beerdood · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    Now if the Netherlands would re-relax their laws concerning foreigners purchasing recreational drugs, I could really see a huge spike in tourism next year

    --
    Global warming and other natural disasters are a direct effect of the shrinking number of pirates - Gospel of the FSM
  10. We already have this here. by dccase · · Score: 5, Funny

    Our roads turn white to signal that it is snowing.

    1. Re:We already have this here. by MartinSchou · · Score: 2

      And what does it do when it hasn't snowed, the air temperature is above freezing, but random parts of the road is below freezing and there's a light drizzle?

      This tends to form a very localized phenomenon known as black ice - patches of road that look innocuous but are about as slippery as it gets.

    2. Re:We already have this here. by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      Our roads stay the same colour when they're covered in ice.

  11. pretty damm cool. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I'm glad there's at least one country on the planet with a clue. Or at least way more than anyplace else.

    1. Re:pretty damm cool. by Neil+Boekend · · Score: 1

      The Dutch are always trying new stuff with roads, like asphalt with noise reduction and better water management (reduced aquaplaning) (Google translate) which is used on highways here or fast and easy to install asphalt (sadly that failed, but they are finding ways of improving it)(google translate)

      --
      Well, I might have a way, but it only works on a semi spherical planet in a vacuum.
  12. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you'd written "dike" instead of "dyke", maybe your joke would have been amusingly relevant instead of offensive.

    Either way, you still have to stick your finger in 'em.

  13. Re:Dutch dykes by thebeige · · Score: 1

    If you'd written "dike" instead of "dyke", maybe your joke would have been amusingly relevant instead of offensive.

    Either way, you still have to stick your finger in 'em.

    But then your finger would glow!

  14. Re:Dutch dykes by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 2

    If you'd written "dike" instead of "dyke", maybe your joke would have been amusingly relevant instead of offensive.

    dyke (plural dykes)
    low dry-stone wall
    hedge

    http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/dyke

    --
    "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes
  15. Real world testing please by ehud42 · · Score: 2

    There's a stretch of highway by my place that has these really cool LED lights countersunk into the centre line that I'm sure were marketed as a great way to increase safety. The stretch of highway is a narrow 2 lane non-divided temporary by pass around a construction zone (major interchange being built to no where).

    The problem with these fancy LEDs is they are so dim that I actually find myself quite distracted trying to determine if they are in fact glowing. Had they gone with a much lower tech solution of putting countersunk reflectors, my headlights would have gladly lit up the centre line.

    Glow in the dark stickers, etc. only work when the surrounding area is really dark, otherwise there just isn't enough contrast.

    I hope this tech provides a significant visual contrast or else it will just be a distracting and annoying waste of money.

    --
    I'm in my right mind and I have the answer to everything!
    1. Re:Real world testing please by houghi · · Score: 1

      I hope this tech provides a significant visual contrast or else it will just be a distracting and annoying waste of money.

      I see it as the glow in the dark watches. During the day they are white. During the night they glow green.

      I also see this as an addition not a complete alternative, to other things.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    2. Re:Real world testing please by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      The sunken botts' dots are a horrible fuckup anyway, because shit collects in them. They become less visible in the rain, and anything spilled on the highway will remain in them, gravel stops there, then people run over it at high speed and kick it up into the air, etc. You can tell that someone has found a way to steal some of your money when they are used.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  16. Google's True Intent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now you know why Google wants self-driving cars. Then you don't have to pay attention to driving. Then they can put ads on the roads!

  17. Who remembers Freezy Freakies? by EmagGeek · · Score: 1

    Now coming to a road near you!

  18. The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed in the province of Brabant in mid-2013

    They do realize .. you had to be outside to either get in the car or at least to pull out of the garage, right? Might notice things like "shit it's below freezing" or "shit it's snowy, roads might be slick". Just sayin'.

    Like the weather station telling me it is raining right now. Yeah no shit, I can look out the window and I can hear it on the roof.

    As an American, I want my country to monopolize this war on common sense. Americans don't look at road markings - that's why their SUVs are always weaving across the double-yellow at least a few times a minute. Everybody doing that makes it easy for drunk drivers to get away with it too. Oh and actually watching traffic conditions and road painting might mean putting down the cellphone we're texting on or the cheeseburger we're eating because we're fat and it's been a while 20 minutes since we last ate a 1000 calorie meal. We have to do this as much as possible because soon self-driving cars will remove the thrill of being a stupid and unnecessary threat to everyone else!

    And that's the American Way. It's about time these damned Netherlands people realized they're stealing our anti-intellectual property.

    1. Re:The War On Common Sense by hawguy · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed in the province of Brabant in mid-2013

      They do realize .. you had to be outside to either get in the car or at least to pull out of the garage, right? Might notice things like "shit it's below freezing" or "shit it's snowy, roads might be slick". Just sayin'.

      I don't know if you've ever driving in winter conditions... but you do realize that road surface temperature differs from air temperature, and varies over time and distance? It might be 5 degrees when you leave your office, but by the time you reach your home outside of the city, it may have dropped to below freezing.

    2. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed in the province of Brabant in mid-2013

      They do realize .. you had to be outside to either get in the car or at least to pull out of the garage, right? Might notice things like "shit it's below freezing" or "shit it's snowy, roads might be slick". Just sayin'.

      I don't know if you've ever driving in winter conditions... but you do realize that road surface temperature differs from air temperature, and varies over time and distance? It might be 5 degrees when you leave your office, but by the time you reach your home outside of the city, it may have dropped to below freezing.

      I'm one of those weird guys who believes in fixing a problem at the source of the problem.

      Anyone who doesn't understand that and think it's bleedin' obvious is not qualified to drive a car and should never receive a license until they get a clue.

      Unlike this proposal, it would SAVE money, not cost money.

    3. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I don't know if you've ever driving in winter conditions... but you do realize that road surface temperature differs from air temperature, and varies over time and distance? It might be 5 degrees when you leave your office, but by the time you reach your home outside of the city, it may have dropped to below freezing.

      I drive in "winter conditions" 5-7 months every year. And I see no use for warnings built into the road. Yes - road surface temperature vary over time and vary from air temperature. But everybody knows that very well, so no warning needed. Winter conditions hold no surprises . . .

    4. Re:The War On Common Sense by flibbajobber · · Score: 3, Funny

      I drive in "winter conditions" 5-7 months every year...

      So you're familiar with it. This kind of system would be entirely appropriate for somewhere that gets frozen-road conditions only a few days of the year, or areas that experience high amounts of traffic from out-of-towners.

      This is for the visitors - the kind of idiot who follows his GPS into a lake - not the locals.

    5. Re:The War On Common Sense by AK+Marc · · Score: 2

      I've driven from Dallas to Fargo in one day. Dallas was warm. Fargo was less so. If it passed below freezing, I wouldn't know. Yes, I got out to fill up, and it was colder than TX, but no idea on what the temperature was. Though many cars have temperature, which seems a better way to gauge, unless the air temp is significantly different than the road temperature.

    6. Re:The War On Common Sense by hawguy · · Score: 3, Funny

      The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed in the province of Brabant in mid-2013

      They do realize .. you had to be outside to either get in the car or at least to pull out of the garage, right? Might notice things like "shit it's below freezing" or "shit it's snowy, roads might be slick". Just sayin'.

      I don't know if you've ever driving in winter conditions... but you do realize that road surface temperature differs from air temperature, and varies over time and distance? It might be 5 degrees when you leave your office, but by the time you reach your home outside of the city, it may have dropped to below freezing.

      I'm one of those weird guys who believes in fixing a problem at the source of the problem.

      Anyone who doesn't understand that and think it's bleedin' obvious is not qualified to drive a car and should never receive a license until they get a clue.

      Unlike this proposal, it would SAVE money, not cost money.

      How do you know it would SAVE money to not have freeze warning indicators painted on the roads? They didn't give any price for the indicators in the article, nor did they give any estimate of how many accidents it could prevent.

      If it costs $1000/mile to paint the indicators on the roads, and prevents one $10,000 accident per 10 miles, then it would break even.

      I don't know about the drivers in the Netherlands, but I can say with some certainty that many of the licensed drivers in the USA indeed do not have a clue. This is especially evident when driving to the mountains on ski weekends and seeing the reckless driving and accidents from out-of-area drivers that really have no clue about how to drive safely in winter conditions since they only drive in snow 3 weekends a year in a rented SUV. I think drivers like this would definitely benefit from freeze warning indicators.

    7. Re:The War On Common Sense by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      I drive in massive snow, and a "glow in the dark" road will be useless as it will be under 1 foot of snow.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    8. Re:The War On Common Sense by Lumpy · · Score: 1

      Buick and BMW cars have had freeze warning sensors in them cince 1979. Why is this not stock in all cars made?

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    9. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I also drive in horrible winter conditions for almost half of the year and have had to deal with icy roads in almost every month of the year at some point. I've actually never been in an accident as a result. But my first thought in response to "no warning needed" is "screw you, I'll take every warning or indicator I can get if reasonably priced." Shit happens, not everyone is in perfect mental condition when driving, even seasoned drivers make misjudgements. Experience can at times almost be a risk at times, as people become complacent and cut corners. I've also seen enough drivers claim to be good or amazing drivers who actually aren't, and thought maybe I shouldn't assume I am above average either. I also realize the road shouldn't be built for what the good drivers can handle anyways, it should be built for what the bad drivers can handle, as they can take you out with them. Besides, you can chose to ignore the indicators, but you can't chose to pay attention to them if there not there.

      This not to say I think they should be installed everywhere... I would need to see the costs and effectiveness before supporting it. It is not like I am the type that thinks everyone should be driving 5 mph, as people still need to get from point A to B in a reasonable time.

    10. Re:The War On Common Sense by hawguy · · Score: 1

      I drive in massive snow, and a "glow in the dark" road will be useless as it will be under 1 foot of snow.

      If you can't tell from the 12 inches of snow on the road that the road may be slippery, perhaps you're not cut out for driving.

      But if you're in an area that doesn't get a lot of permanent snow, yet temperatures hover around freezing, you might find this more useful.

    11. Re:The War On Common Sense by camperdave · · Score: 1

      If it's got a foot of snow on it, it's likely not very slippery. It's the thin sheen of ice that's dangerous. You can go from good traction to no traction in a fraction of a second.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    12. Re:The War On Common Sense by eugene+ts+wong · · Score: 1

      It depends on the climate, I think. In some places, the snow is very dry. In other places, there is a thick solid layer of ice underneath.

      I'm so surprised that so many people seem opposed to this.

      In the parts of Canada that I've been to, we get thick layers of ice on the road, and it can be covered up by snow. Even in a story that I read, it was common for the characters to skate to school. When I was in college in Alberta, I would go about in a skating motion from building to building, when it was slippery enough. They could put salt on the walkways, but the bottom line is that life happens.

    13. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Because the warning light might as well say "UFO overhead." A freezing warning means nothing to someone who has no idea how to drive in such weather. As a former Calgarian (Alberta), suddenly finding yourself on a stretch of ice that not even ABS can handle requires a steady hand and a calm head. Experience has taught me what to do and how, and fortunately without a single dent in the process, but to an inexperienced driver it's plain panic, pumping the pedal pointlessly.

      End result: those people would still be in the ditch.

    14. Re:The War On Common Sense by locopuyo · · Score: 1

      Because they provide no value.

    15. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Informative

      How do you know it would SAVE money to not have freeze warning indicators painted on the roads? They didn't give any price for the indicators in the article, nor did they give any estimate of how many accidents it could prevent.

      If it costs $1000/mile to paint the indicators on the roads, and prevents one $10,000 accident per 10 miles, then it would break even.

      I don't know about the drivers in the Netherlands, but I can say with some certainty that many of the licensed drivers in the USA indeed do not have a clue. This is especially evident when driving to the mountains on ski weekends and seeing the reckless driving and accidents from out-of-area drivers that really have no clue about how to drive safely in winter conditions since they only drive in snow 3 weekends a year in a rented SUV. I think drivers like this would definitely benefit from freeze warning indicators.

      The new Dutch government has basically agreed to raise taxes on homeowners and parents and to raise (mandatory) healthcare costs as much as 800%. But it's good to know that there is enough money to put glow-in-the-dark paint on the roads because I'm sure that was the first thing on the minds of Dutch voters!

      As for Dutch motorists, the license requirements are stricter than the US, the driving age is higher, the roads are completely flat, the freeways are basically at a standstill during rush hour, and it rains every five minutes, so people are pretty used to inclement weather.

    16. Re:The War On Common Sense by rooie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Here in The Netherlands winter doesn't automatically means snow or temperatures below zero. So you can't see that roads are slippery. More often than not it's just below zero. The problem starts if it drizzled during the night and you only have ground frost. Then you get black ice. Which you don't see. Of course, if you walk towards your car you might know roads are slippery, but that doesn't guarantee that all roads are (or aren't) slippery.

    17. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Buick and BMW cars have had freeze warning sensors in them cince 1979. Why is this not stock in all cars made?

      If one of the "competitors" in a market have something and the rest don't the obvious answer is patents and copyright.

      And before you ask: Yes, IP law is considered more important than human safety.

    18. Re:The War On Common Sense by digitalchinky · · Score: 1

      As a motorbike rider it may have been useful way back when I first began, though without the ability to also indicate oil and diesel spills it's kind of a novelty, just some road eye candy.

      You learn real early where the slippery stuff is so you look for it as a matter of routine.

      Is this special paint also slippery in the wet (just like regular line markings) for the crowd on two wheels?

    19. Re:The War On Common Sense by sincewhen · · Score: 1

      I think drivers like this would definitely benefit from freeze warning indicators.

      And I think you're wrong, since they

      have no clue about how to drive safely in winter conditions

      --
      -- Braden's law of data: All data spends some of its lifetime in an excel spreadsheet.
    20. Re:The War On Common Sense by Gmooron · · Score: 1

      Well, the average Dutch driver doesn't have much clue either, believe me.

    21. Re:The War On Common Sense by NJRoadfan · · Score: 1

      Around here a much cheaper solution is implemented, signs that say "Bridge freezes before road surface".

    22. Re:The War On Common Sense by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Perhaps the answer is to put a laser pyrometer on the front of the vehicle, and illuminate a snowflake on the dash when the road is freezing, and could be iced up. Look ma, no repainting, and can be upgraded for each driver. Of course, flip side, it has to be upgraded for each driver. But they're mandating everything else these days, why not that

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    23. Re:The War On Common Sense by camperdave · · Score: 1

      Actually, my first thought was: Instead of indicating where the road was slippery, why don't they develop a paint that will become rougher or stickier when conditions would make normal pavement slippery.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
    24. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm one of those weird guys who believes in fixing a problem at the source of the problem.

      Me too. In this case, the source of the problem is obviously that the Netherlands isn't in a tropical area.

    25. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MOD UP, this is exactly the point.

    26. Re:The War On Common Sense by Barryke · · Score: 1

      This is for the visitors - the kind of idiot who follows his GPS into a lake - not the locals.

      No that'd be the USA. No lakes in Brabant except for the mosquito/frog mud holes designed by environment politicians.

      --
      Hivemind harvest in progress..
    27. Re:The War On Common Sense by Vernes · · Score: 1

      As an average Dutch driver I have to agree even if I feel I do not fit that description.
      German drivers know how to drive on a highway.
      Left side is for driving FUCKING FAST!
      If you see the dot in your backmirror growing larger, it means there is someone driving FUCKING FASTER!
      And they.. move aside to the right lane.
      On the dutch motorways, you just dump your car infront of the guy driving 160kmh even though you are driving 100
      Because god forbid you have to slow down and wait for him to pass.
      In other news, flashing your breaklights is really fun if there is a slow moving traffic-jam, because the one thing moving traffic-jams need is a wave of breaking cars because you can't handle the gas-throttle between "pressed through your car-floor" and "firmly pressed on the break".

      Dutch are in general, assholes as soon as they get in their car.

      So, what's the ETA on that car-robot google seems to play around with?

    28. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As someone who drives in winter conditions for 3+ months out of the year, I actually think this would be really useful. There have definitely been times where I was on a long roadtrip and it was 50 when I got in the car and then a couple hours later I tap my brakes on the highway and feel the ABS go on due to me being on black ice. My BMW has a chime at 37 degrees to help precisely this kind of situation, but not everyone has a new car with an exterior temperature sensor. Plus those fail (mine is currently locked at 122 degrees).

    29. Re:The War On Common Sense by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      It's likely cheaper to paint a road than upgrade millions of cars.

    30. Re:The War On Common Sense by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      I'm sure it is, but people upgrade their cars anyway. We're forcing ABS, TC and yaw control on everyone in the USA through upgrades, not retrofits.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    31. Re:The War On Common Sense by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      Then do both, and abandon the maintenance on the road paint once 100% thermometer adoption is complete. They paint the roads routinely, so I don't think the snowflake paint will be that costly or complex.

    32. Re:The War On Common Sense by Algae_94 · · Score: 0

      You're probably just going to confuse him and make him rant about your implicit use of Celsius temperatures.

    33. Re:The War On Common Sense by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      I haven't owned a car since a 1994 Ford Ranger that didn't have this kind of warning. I think it is fairly standard now. The article is talking about freeze warnings painted onto the road surface.

    34. Re:The War On Common Sense by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      It would only be useful for few days of the year freezing conditions. Anywhere with more prolonged winter will have snow and ice buildup covering anything painted on the roads. The summary mentions a lot of other things that are unrelated to winter driving and would be beneficial anywhere.

    35. Re:The War On Common Sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe you should read what you are replying too. The GP didn't mention anything about the freeze warnings, he was referring to the glow in the dark paint.

    36. Re:The War On Common Sense by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

      I'd be more interested in them finding a way for the roads here to not lose an entire lane of traffic for 6 months. Once the lines get covered with snow and ice its a free for all that usually results in one less lane of travel.

  19. Yes they probalby will. by epSos-de · · Score: 1

    Germany already has glowing lines and signs. The stripes on the major roads are highly reflective, so you need no glowing paint, as long as you have good lights. Some signs are also luminescent, but do not glow as much as it was proposed in the pictures of this design. German car manufacturers have been thinking about inductive charging too. The Electricity in here is expensive, so the proposal with inefficient charging was not welcomed by reality. I believe that the city of Dresden was thinking about inductive charging for trams and buses. Not sure what became of that, but they probably will do it after the state financed university will figure out how to do it cheaper than gasoline, diesel and gas.

    1. Re:Yes they probalby will. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Tram and bus charging can be solved with wipers, but car charging really needs to be done inductively. I'm sure some people would be happy to pay for it even being inefficient, but what we really need is efficient inductive charging while on the fly. Heh heh.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  20. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    If you'd written "dike" instead of "dyke", maybe your joke would have been amusingly relevant instead of offensive.

    If you're really that easily offended .. what the hell are you DOING on the internet?!

  21. Inductive lanes? by hawguy · · Score: 2

    What are the "priority induction lanes for electric vehicles"? Do they inductively charge electric vehicles? Are they toll lanes to pay for the electricity?

    1. Re:Inductive lanes? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 3, Informative

      Apparently it's the former: here

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:Inductive lanes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Does anyone measure the health impact of this sort of thing? What if you were walking on this part of the road?

    3. Re:Inductive lanes? by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      What health impact?

    4. Re:Inductive lanes? by hawguy · · Score: 1

      What health impact?

      You know, the improvements in blood circulation, increased sexual prowess, better sports performance, and all of the other benefits that you get from magnetic bracelets.

    5. Re:Inductive lanes? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What health impact?

      ....says the idiot who gets cancer from excessive wireless signals 5 years from now.

      You know what they say about discoveries...someone actually has to discover them.

      Oh, and you know what they say about greedy corporations and the executives that represent them...no one can seem to tell the truth.

    6. Re:Inductive lanes? by hawguy · · Score: 1

      What health impact?

      ....says the idiot who gets cancer from excessive wireless signals 5 years from now.

      You know what they say about discoveries...someone actually has to discover them.

      Oh, and you know what they say about greedy corporations and the executives that represent them...no one can seem to tell the truth.

      Cell phones have been around for decades, and used to put out much higher signal levels, yet people are not dropping dead from them.

      The inductive chargers don't even use radio waves, they use magnetic fields, which you're exposed to every day from your home appliances and wiring.

    7. Re:Inductive lanes? by Judebert · · Score: 1

      Although they're not on the slate for next year. :(

      --

      For geek dads: Contraction Timer

  22. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    If you'd written "dike" instead of "dyke", maybe your joke would have been amusingly relevant instead of offensive.

    Easily offended types like you already neutered TV, newspapers, radio, and made USA the laughing stock of the world over one breast during a half-time show.

    Do you guys ever get together and say "yep, maybe we've done enough damage?" Do you ever say "hey maybe I should control myself and what I choose to expose myself and my family to, man that sure would be easier than trying to censor and guilt-trip-control the whole rest of the world!"

  23. Wait a sec... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There's baby food which contains an image which gets visible when its surface becomes slippery? WTFBBQ.

    1. Re:Wait a sec... by AK+Marc · · Score: 1

      temperature to make sure you don't burn the baby

    2. Re:Wait a sec... by hawguy · · Score: 1

      There's baby food which contains an image which gets visible when its surface becomes slippery? WTFBBQ.

      I think a better example is the beer bottle labels that change color to tell you when the beer is at optimal drinking temperature. No need to actually touch the bottle to see if the beer is cold enough to drink.

      Though I suppose with some beers, this label actually is useful to make sure the beer is ice cold before drinking to make it more palatable.

  24. Re:Dutch dykes by xstonedogx · · Score: 2

    You say that like "guilt-trip-control" is a means to an end. It's not.

  25. interactive lights that switch on as cars pass by amanaplanacanalpanam · · Score: 1

    I'd like some of that here, to reduce light pollution.

  26. Prior art by cbiltcliffe · · Score: 1

    I hope they're not going to try to patent this.
    Fukushima and Pripyat already have glow in the dark roads!

    Thanks. I'll be here all week. Or at least until management kicks me out.....

    --
    "City hall" in German is "Rathaus" Kinda explains a few things......
  27. disappointed by PopeRatzo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The first few hundred meters of glow in the dark, weather-indicating road will be installed in the province of Brabant in mid-2013, followed by priority induction lanes for electric vehicles, interactive lights that switch on as cars pass and wind-powered lights within the next five years.

    Those socialist hell-holes get all the good stuff.

    But we'll have the last laugh when the US becomes one big Foxconn dormitory, because we'll still have our liberty.

    --
    You are welcome on my lawn.
    1. Re:disappointed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      All those "godless socialist hell holes" are way ahead of us in science and technology.

      We are just too divided within ourselves to realise this.

    2. Re:disappointed by Issarlk · · Score: 1

      They get the good stuff first in this case, but just wait: glow in the dark gravel roads are comming soon to the USA. Take that, dirty commies!

    3. Re:disappointed by Barryke · · Score: 1

      Those socialist hell-holes get all the good stuff.

      I am dutch and i do not get your sarcasm.

      --
      Hivemind harvest in progress..
    4. Re:disappointed by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1

      I am dutch and i do not get your sarcasm.

      If you can tell I was sarcastic, then you got my sarcasm just fine.

      Anyway, we're not talking about the Dutch, we're talking about the Netherlands.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
  28. Testbed for new technology by jrumney · · Score: 1

    So someone invents an alien shape-shifting (OK I exaggerate, color-shifting) technology, and the first use we think of is to put it in babyfood?

  29. About by Whiteox · · Score: 1

    time.

    --
    Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
  30. Markers under the snow - useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Speaking as a Kanuck, if you can see the road, then you don't have snow yet. The only thing that helps is a good GPS receiver.

  31. hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What happens when snow covers them?

    1. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Electric lanes still keep working...

      And this is for roads themselves are below freezing while air temperature is high enough to support rain.

  32. In a related story. . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In a related story, Wired apparently is still in business.

  33. Shining roads in Amsterdam? by OhANameWhatName · · Score: 1

    Trippy dude

    1. Re:Shining roads in Amsterdam? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It said Breda, not Amsterdam. But you're forgiven. Being in New York, California, you couldn't have known :)

  34. Traitors by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Don't all of you know that only in America can advanced products appear or be put into play. Just ask a republican. There is no global warming and there is nothing in Europe that we didn't have in America in 1910. And there are no pretty girls in France either. And they are dirt poor and live in filthy hovels and are all bankrupt due to socialism from things like trying to save lives with safer roads which is clearly an un American Marxist conspiracy.

  35. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's because we see your anger and it is delicious to us. It's always a beautiful sight, the impotent frustration when a privileged ass realizes the world no longer revolves around them. Think about what our troll wrote. 'Dyke', an offensive term for lesbian (or, in a lot of immature spaces, 'any woman to whom I feel entitled but she disagrees'), from a probably-almost-certainly male poster, with overtones of sexual aggression. 'Stick your fingers in them'? Really?

    I know in the good old days men could broadcast this kind of casual, misogynistic violence with impunity, but those days are (thankfully) coming to an end.

    Reacting to violence is not being "overly sensitive".

  36. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In en-GB, the use of dike versus dyke depends on whether you grew up inside what was once Danelaw. For that matter, whether it is a bank or a ditch varies around the country as well, although most of the time it is obvious from context, and it can always mean both together.

  37. Re:Dutch dykes by r_a_trip · · Score: 2

    Oh fuck off, you oversensitive dyke. Just because you happen to have a vagina, doesn't make you entitled to live in a politically correct dystopia. You are a bald monkey, who will live, die and rot away. Just like the rest of us.

    Before you label me as a mysoginistic piece of straight, male scum, just out to denigrate you and tranform you into a sexual object, I have to tell you, you're wrong. I'm a gay, a sissy, a faggot, a fudgepacker, a queer. I'm light on my feet.

    --
    # touch universe # chmod +rwx universe # ./universe
  38. Alternative applications by cellocgw · · Score: 1

    Like, nobody's suggested markers that light up when there are zombies ahead?

    Or (good luck with this one), markers that respond to cars passing over them (like the in-pavement triggers for left-turn lights) by lighting up for the next 3 seconds to indicate to the next driver that he's driving too dang close to the car in front of him.

    --
    https://app.box.com/WitthoftResume Code: https://github.com/cellocgw
  39. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Oh fuck off, you oversensitive dyke. Just because you happen to have a vagina, doesn't make you entitled to live in a politically correct dystopia. You are a bald monkey, who will live, die and rot away. Just like the rest of us. Before you label me as a mysoginistic piece of straight, male scum, just out to denigrate you and tranform you into a sexual object, I have to tell you, you're wrong. I'm a gay, a sissy, a faggot, a fudgepacker, a queer. I'm light on my feet.

    As a heterosexual man, I love you! In a platonic way, that is.

    Tired, tired, TIRED of the politically correct bullshit. It's more stupid and offensive than any manufactured perceived "problem" it intends to solve.

  40. Re:Dutch dykes by Algae_94 · · Score: 1

    "Dyke" is also an alternative spelling of a water control dam or levee. I believe there is a story about a Dutch kid that sticks his finger in a dyke to stop a leak. The original post could easily be taken for a joke about glow in the dark holes to make it easier to stop leaks, or you could take it as some kind of markings for Dutch lesbians angle like you did.

    Save your anger for when someone actually does say something offensive. You will get a better response when people don't think you're overly critical about a joke.

  41. Re:Dutch dykes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I don't have a vagina (but I am not male) and gay men are some of the worst misogynists, in my experience. If you think your ability to participate in toxic culture trumps everyone else's ability to live without fear, maybe you're the one who should fuck off?

    For lots of women, trans*, and non-binary people, the world is and always has been a dystopia.