Spain replaced warning triangle: from 2026 the V-16 warning light will come!

Spain replaced warning triangle: from 2026 the V-16 warning light will come!

Spanien - Spain faces a significant change in traffic law, which will come into force from January 1, 2026. From this date, the conventional warning triangle is replaced by a modern V-16 warning light. The Spanish traffic authority DGT has decided to increase security on the streets and to counteract the risks when setting up warning triangles in the event of breakdowns or accidents. The DGT emphasizes that the new regulation is applicable to all vehicles approved in Spain.

The V-16 warning lamp is a portable, orange flashing light that resembles the warning lights of rescue vehicles and is visible over a range of up to one kilometer. This device radiates a 360 ° visible flashing light and can be operated for at least 30 minutes. In contrast to the warning triangle that requires leaving the vehicle, the V-16 warning light enables safe attachment on the vehicle roof without the driver having to get out. This increases security, especially in poor visibility.

Technical details of the V-16 warning light

The warning lamp works either with a battery or a rechargeable power source and has a lifespan of at least 18 months. It must be kept in the glove compartment of the vehicle and should ensure that the battery power is sufficient. Each device must correspond to certain standards and have a connection to the DGT 3.0 platform in order to automatically transmit the position of the vehicle to the traffic authority and emergency services every 100 seconds.

The data protection is also taken into account: only the location is transmitted and the transmission ends directly as soon as the flashing light is switched off. While the use of the V-16 warning lamp on motorways and expressways is mandatory, the warning triangle remains on country roads and in the inner-city area. Nevertheless, the DGT also recommends using the warning lamp to increase security on these streets.

for German drivers in Spain

German vacationers who travel to Spain with their own vehicle can still use their German warning triangle, since the new regulations only apply to vehicles approved in Spain. However, rental cars in Spain must be equipped with the V-16 warning light. When taking over the vehicle, vacationers should make sure that this is available. In order to avoid fines, it is also advisable to find out about the approval of certain V-16 warning lights that are listed in the official DGT list.

Overall, the introduction of the V-16 warning lamp aims to increase the safety in road traffic and reduce the number of accidents. Until the legal introduction of the new warning lights, both warning triangles and some non-connecting V-16 warning lights are still allowed until January 1, 2026.