Kazakh highway operator KazAvtoZhol has started equipping toll roads with laser systems designed to reduce accident rates at night and help drivers traveling on long, monotonous journeys.
‘Safety light’ locations
The installation is underway on 22 sections of major highways, including:
- Astana-Shchuchinsk
- Almaty-Khorgos
- Shymkent-Taraz
- Uralsk-Russian border
and other heavily used routes.
How it works
Special equipment projects bright lines of light onto the road ahead of the vehicle. This is more than just decoration: lasers create clear visual cues where road markings may be difficult to see in low-light conditions, fog or snow.
The technology’s main feature is its ability to address highway hypnosis — bright lights prompt the brain to refocus, reducing the risk of drivers falling asleep while traveling along long straight sections. According to international data, lasers on highways can reduce accident rates by 40-50%.
«Drivers’ reaction times to laser signals are significantly faster than to traditional signs or road markings,» the operator noted.
Public reaction
Users of toll roads say the lasers have made night trips more comfortable. Drivers report less eye strain and the direction of travel becomes easier to perceive intuitively.
The introduction of laser systems in Kazakhstan could become an important step toward improving road safety, given the country’s long distances and monotonous landscapes. If the system’s effectiveness is confirmed, these «light corridors» may eventually appear on other highways.
