China tests highway laser lights to fight driver fatigue

Drivers in China have recently been seeing an unusual sight on highways: intense red, green and blue laser beams cutting through the night and hovering above cars. The system was rolled out as a pilot in Shandong and Hunan provinces, where officials are trying to address a dangerous problem on long, straight stretches of road.

The project is designed to reduce visual fatigue caused by monotonous driving. According to field data, it aims to cut crashes linked to "micro-sleep", brief episodes of falling asleep for a few seconds, by 20% to 30%. The article says this kind of drowsiness accounts for a large share of highway accidents.

Developers say the lasers are not aimed directly at drivers’ eyes and do not use strobe effects. Instead, they target peripheral vision in order to stimulate the brain and keep drivers alert without creating dangerous glare.

The technology is also being used as a roadside warning system. Drivers who stop on the shoulder can activate a powerful green laser beam visible from far away, similar to advanced safety systems used in Europe. After the pilot’s apparent success, Chinese authorities are already considering expanding the system to more national highways.