KO jams at flick of a switch

02nd April 2007

White line road markings that appear and vanish have been patented by Dutch electronics giant Philips.

The technology will enable traffic controllers to change lane widths as soon as traffic gets heavy, and so squeeze more vehicles on to the road.

It's done with long panels of e-Ink inserted into the road surface, blending into the tarmac when not needed. However, during peak periods they will turn white at the flick of a switch, dividing roads into narrower lanes. E-Ink is more environmentally friendly than illuminated displays as it doesn't need constant power.

When traffic clears, the narrower lane markings can then revert to standard widths. Experiments with width-changing lanes on Dutch motorways have seen traffic flow improve.