The V-16 emergency lights are bright yellow or orange beacons, with flashing light, that are used to signal a vehicle in the event of a breakdown or accident. This is an alternative to traditional triangles to alert other drivers and represents a step forward in the effectiveness of emergency signaling at critical moments, as they make the disabled vehicle visible from a kilometer away.
The main advantage that V-16 emergency lights provide over traditional pre-signal triangles lies in the significant improvement in safety for drivers and service teams in emergency situations on the road. This advantage is directly related to the fact that motorists do not need to get out of the car to place the beacon, which reduces the risk of being hit by other vehicles.
As a result of the increase in the number of accidents on roads, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has established that since July 1, it is no longer mandatory to signal an emergency on the highway or highway with triangles. Instead, it is advisable to use the V-16 light, an innovative alternative that not only meets signaling standards, but also significantly reduces the risk of accidents related to the placement of beacons, since it is not necessary to go out of the car to install it.
However, not all V-16 emergency lights are created equal. There are two main categories of these light beacons: those that are connected and those that do not offer connection. These differences have a significant impact on its operation, flexibility and effectiveness in various emergency situations as we will see later.
First, however, we must refer to the characteristics that V-16 beacons must meet in general, whether connected or not. These singularities are included in Royal Decree 159/2021, of March 16, which regulates emergency services on public roads, and specifies the characteristics that V-16 emergency beacons must meet.
These luminous devices must emit an intense yellow light intermittently in a 360-degree horizontal field and be visible at a distance of one kilometer. A notable aspect is that they maintain their operation for at least 30 minutes and are equipped with a battery whose life is at least 18 months, regardless of whether it is rechargeable or not. In addition, these lights are provided with all the components necessary for their operation and connectivity.
In legal terms, the V-16 lights approved by Traffic comply with the minimum requirements set by law, ensuring connectivity for at least 12 years from their acquisition.
As previously reflected, beacons that do not have connectivity are legal as long as they are approved, although it must be taken into account that as of January 1, 2026, only lights with geolocation capacity will be allowed. These more sophisticated beacons are equipped with an e-SIM card to offer this functionality, so they are more expensive.
Traffic recommends that drivers who plan to purchase a triangle or a non-connected V-16 light do not do so, and instead purchase an approved connected beacon that, “in many cases, gives you connectivity included until 2038,” according to says Jorge Ordás, deputy director of Mobility and Technology Management of the DGT, in statements collected by the magazine Tráfico y Seguridad Vial.
Geolocated beacons differ from beacons that do not offer connectivity by automatically communicating the geopositioning of the damaged vehicle to the manufacturer's cloud, the DGT 3.0 platform and the national access point. When the geolocation system is activated, the light sends the vehicle's location every 100 seconds.
Additionally, those drivers who already have a V-16 light connected or intend to purchase one before the regulations are modified, will not be required to replace the device with another that complies with the updated regulations, unlike users of offline beacons. Although the connected V-16 light has a higher cost compared to the offline version, there will be no additional investment required.
As we have seen previously, one of the main advantages that the V-16 light provides compared to triangles is the fact that the driver does not have to get out of the car to signal a dangerous situation on the road. In addition, the light beacon provides greater visibility, since the flashing light is seen at 360 degrees and up to a kilometer away, which is of great importance in low light situations, such as at night.
Finally, it should be noted that the V-16 signal takes up less space in the vehicle, something that must be taken into account when we talk about vehicles with little space to transport objects. This is the case, for example, of motorcycles and mopeds.
