These Laser Lightshows On Chinese Highway Are Meant To Keep Drivers Awake

Ryan Erik King

November 7, 2023 at 12:15 PM·1 min read

Footage of lasers over a Chinese highway

Chinese road officials are utilizing a unique method of combating nighttime driver fatigue: lasers! Drivers have recorded the surreal light show projected above a lengthy highway segment across northern China. The beams of bright colors are meant to keep drivers awake, but it could be a distraction on its own with the right soundtrack.

A video captured on the Qingdao–Yinchuan Expressway displays vibrant laser lights hovering above the vehicles. Mr. Li, the person behind the camera, reported that these laser lights designed to combat fatigue quickly revitalized him and reduced his exhaustion during a prolonged…
— Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) November 6, 2023

The viral video of the so-called safety feature was posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) by user “Science girl.” The lasers mounted on sign gantries above the roadway rotate between red, blue and green lights in a cycle. They don’t strobe, aim directly at vehicles or do anything particularly dangerous. The user offered a bit more context in a follow-up post: