Invisible Paint Key to making Cycling Safer - Expert

A unique invisible paint could help reduce the hundreds of Kiwi cyclists killed or injured on our roads each year, according to a local a bike safety group.

Ministry of Transport figures show that around 825 cyclists are killed or injured on our roads every year, with a large proportion of accidents involving cyclists occurring at night.

The new Life Paint developed by Volvo is a unique reflective spray, designed to react to a car’s headlights and alerting drivers to the presence of adult cyclists in the dark and also during winter rush hour (4-6pm) when light levels are poor.

The reflective safety paint is invisible by daylight, but in the dark reflects light in the same direction as the light source, shining brightly to illuminate the objects it has been sprayed on.

Life Paint is transparent and can be washed off. It can be applied to clothes, shoes, helmets, pushchairs and children’s backpacks – even dog leads and collars. Its aim is to make the invisible visible at night.

The general manager of Volvo New Zealand Steve Kenchington says the company is always looking for new ways to improve safety for drivers, passengers, pedestrians and other road users.

“Almost two thirds of accidents involving bikes are not the fault of the cyclist. These road users are highly vulnerable and we take any steps we can take as a car manufacturer to make them safer - Life Paint is just  one of these steps.

“While the paint has been designed with cyclists in mind, we are sure families will also welcome this product - whether that’s for baby buggies, pet collars or even for runners, there are numerous applications for this product,” he says.

Kenchington says another recent innovation has been the development of Intellisafe, a new Volvo safety system which helps drivers autonomously avoid collisions with other road users.

The technology uses a combination of radar sensors and cameras to identify other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists and automatically brake if the driver fails to take the necessary action. This works in conjunction with Volvo’s Active Bending Headlights, which adjust left to right according to the steering input to help see round corners better and improve safety at night.

For more information about Life Paint, visit volvocars.co.nz