In view of the contradiction between lighting safety and energy saving in highway tunnels, especially the phenomenon of energy waste for "vehiclefree lighting" under low traffic volume, an intelligent control technology of "traveling with vehicle" under low traffic volume is proposed. The technology is realized by adopting the microwave vehicle detection technology which can detect traffic flow in real time. According to the requirements of safe parking visual distance and human visual response relaxation time, the light level and interval time of "vehiclecoming light on" and "vehiclegoing light off" when there is no vehicle coming are determined. The technology cannot only ensure the tunnel lighting safety, but also reduce the energy consumption of tunnel lighting further on the basis of existing specifications when the application scheme based on this technology is applied to practical engineering. Hence, a realtime dynamic intelligent energysaving lighting control mode under low traffic volume is realized. According to the actual engineering application effect test, the adopted scheme can reduce the annual operating cost of tunnel lighting by 72%, which plays a positive role in promoting the level of tunnel lighting safety and energy saving, promoting the upgrading of tunnel quality and green lowcarbon highway traffic.