According to some extremely bizarre reports coming out of Japan, scientists have developed a ‘melody road’ to keep drivers focused. Apparently grooves cut into the road produce a melody when cars drive over at the right speed (from the Deputy Dog blog).

Unfortunately this ‘right speed’ is a rather pathetic 45 kilometres per hour. Driving faster sounds like fast forwarding while crawling along at 20 kilometres per hour may make you feel nauseous (Guardian, Sidney Morning Herald). News.com.au says a report on the work, by the Hokkaido Industrial Research Institute, has been published in the Japanese Gijutsu Iten Foramu journal

I’m not entirely convinced this isn’t an elaborate spoof but there is a news item video of the road at work on Gizmodo. This features comedy giant notes painted on the asphalt, outbreaks of laughter from the presenter, and what can only marginally be described as a melody.