CONFIRMED: All Spanish Vehicles Will Need To Carry V16 Warning Beacons From 2026 DGT Confirms
Spain News
Published: 29 December 2022 15:44 CET
Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, has confirmed that all vehicles circulating on Spanish roads will be required to carry the new style V16 warning beacons from January 1, 2026.
The update was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on December 21, 2022, and establishes that the new beacons will replace the existing warning triangles which have been the legal requirement since 1999.
Until 2026, drivers may continue to use the traditional warning triangles as well as the current V16 beacons which have been available to use since July 1, 2021. However, any beacons that do not have the built-in functionality to connect to the DGT 3.0 Platform, will need to be replaced by 2026.
As there are still no V16 devices on the market that are able to connect to the DGT 3.0 Platform, drivers need to be aware that if they are currently using a V16 device, this will need to be replaced with one of the updated versions which will soon be available to purchase.
Connectivity to the DGT 3.0 system will be mandatory from 2026. Until that date, warning triangles and V16 devices that cannot connect to the DGT 3.0 Platform may continue to be used.
Why the change?
The move from the traditional warning triangles is primarily to improve road safety.
Many drivers have been killed on Spain’s roads after being hit when leaving their vehicles following a breakdown.
The new V16 beacons will mean that a driver does not need to leave the vehicle to place warning triangles in the road, putting themselves at risk.
Once added to the roof, a broken-down vehicle can easily be seen by other drivers from up to 1 km away.
Deputy General Manager of the DGT, Jorge Ordás confirmed that the beacons would soon be coming into force stressing that they would improve road safety and mobility.
“You won’t have to get out of your vehicle to set warning triangles out, you will be visible at a distance of one kilometre, your coordinates will be notified to the DGT and shared with other navigators, APPs and connected vehicles and these V16 beacons can by used by all vehicles, no matter how old they are,” he explained.
Ordás said the new legislation was “a giant step for Spain in connected mobility", and welcomed the official approval of the new V16 devices.
How do the V16 beacons work?
The V16 beacons have a bright yellow/orange parabolic light which is highly visible to other road users.
The new style beacons which will soon be available will also have geolocation functionality which means that can connect to the DGT 3.0 traffic system, warning the authorities of the vehicle's location.
The V16 devices will also have Bluetooth functionality which means that can be connected to mobile phone apps to help with roadside assistance.
Will the DGT be able to continuously monitor drivers?
No. The devices only emit a signal once activated to alert the DGT of your location due to a breakdown. Once switched off, there is no connection to the traffic authorities.
Once the signal is received the DGT 3.0 Platform can then monitor the vehicle's location and send the data to other applications and navigation systems. Other road users can also be alerted via motorway message boards.
Will the service be free?
All V16 devices will automatically be able to connect to the DGT 3.0 Platform once activated. There will be no requirement to subscribe to a paid service.
However, the DGT has said that the new decree has meant they needed to place an expiration date on each device which means they will need to be replaced periodically to take advantage of any future technology updates.
Each V16 device ensures functionality and connection to the DGT 3.0 Platform for at least 12 years.
When can I purchase the new V16 devices?
Following the publication of the Royal Decree in the BOE which determines the characteristics of the new V16 devices, it is anticipated that the devices that will have the DGT 3.0 connectivity will be marketed from the middle of 2023.
Source
https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2022/12/21/pdfs/BOE-A-2022-21683.pdf
https://neomotor.epe.es/conduccion/ya-es-oficial-desde-el-1-de-enero-de-2026-todos-los-coches-deberan-utilizar-las-luces-v16-conectadas-con-la-dgt-EI1093600
