Spain introduces V16 light signal: Mandatory replacement for warning triangles

Road safety on Spanish roads is about to undergo a significant change. As the news portal Menorca reported, a new advance warning system, the so-called V16 light beacon, will gradually replace the traditional warning triangles. This innovative device, known as a "dispositivo de preseñalización", is intended to significantly improve safety in the event of breakdowns or emergencies on the carriageway. It will not be introduced immediately, but in a transitional phase that will ultimately lead to a nationwide obligation.

Timetable for the mandatory introduction

The V16 light beacon, a small, yellow signal light, will be mandatory for almost all vehicles in Spain from 1 January 2026. According to Menorca, this is a progressive introduction that has already begun. This means that the changeover to the new system will be gradual, giving drivers time to adapt to the upcoming change and procure the new equipment.

With this measure, the Spanish Directorate General for Transport (DGT) confirms a change in emergency signage. The aim is to minimise the risk for drivers and passengers who are forced to leave the vehicle in the event of a breakdown in order to set up warning triangles. The V16 light is intended to enable safer and faster identification of the stationary vehicle.

Immediate obligation for certain vehicle groups

Although the general obligation will not come into force until 2026, certain vehicle owners must already carry the new warning signal. Menorca emphasises that this particularly affects owners of motorhomes (caravans). This group of road users is therefore already obliged to use the modern beacon instead of the classic emergency warning triangles to secure their vehicle.

The V16 light beacon is a small, yellow signalling device. It was designed to increase safety in the event of breakdowns or accidents by ensuring better visibility of the vehicle involved. The introduction of this technology marks an important step in the modernisation of Spanish road safety regulations and replaces an emergency signal system that has been in use for decades.