[Le Progrès] Paint revolutionizes road safety in the Ain department

Photoluminescent paint to make dark areas safer at Saint-Jean-le-Vieux

In November 2024, the commune of Saint-Jean-le-Vieux (Ain) tested the use of LuminoKrom® photoluminescent paint on a stretch of road at the northern entrance to the town. This technology, developed by Gironde-based Olikrom, enables road markings to capture light during the day and release it at night, without the need for electricity. Applied to the kerbs, chicanes and zebra stripes of the Route de Genève, the paint ensures night-time visibility for up to 10 hours, even in areas completely plunged into darkness, as is the case between 11pm and 5am in this commune where public lighting is switched off.

An innovation welcomed by elected officials and local residents alike

This first experiment in the Ain region was made possible by Longo Peinture, a company based in Ambronay, whose manager lives in Saint-Jean-le-Vieux. Trained in the application of the product, the company enabled rapid implementation at a cost to the commune of less than 3,500€. Mayor Christian Batailly praises the initial results, describing the system as simple, effective and well received by local residents. Given the recurrent speeding in this 30 km/h zone, LuminoKrom® paint provides an additional safety solution. The municipality is already planning to incorporate the paint into a future redesign of the speed bump zone, following a court ruling. This local initiative confirms a growing trend: rethinking night-time design with sustainable, energy-saving solutions.