Tag: Road Safety Spain

V-16 Emergency Light in Spain: Mandatory Breakdown and Accident Warning Device from 2026

From 1 January 2026, the connected V-16 device will be the only legal means of signalling immobilised vehicles and will replace emergency warning triangles.
Each year in Spain, around 25 people die after being run over on roads, having exited their vehicles. The new regulation intends to prevent these risks and reduce drivers’ exposure to traffic.
Data transmitted by the V-16 is anonymised. DGT oreceives the location of the immobilised vehicle when you activate the beacon.. You do not need to download an app or provide any personal data.
Before purchasing, you can check on the DGT website which V-16 brands and models are certified in accordance with regulations. All must be certified by IDIADA or LCOE.
Residents of Spain are reminded of the importance of consulting official sources to avoid misinformation, which has also affected information about the V-16.

With only weeks to go before the obligation to carry a connected V-16 warning beacon in vehicles comes into force, on 1 January 2026, DGT reminds all drivers of the need to have an approved device to signal breakdowns and accidents on the road. This device will definitively replace emergency triangles and aims to reduce road accidents.

Remember that around 25 people die each year in Spain after vehicles run them over, many while they attempt to signal a breakdown or place warning triangles. The new regulation prevents these risks and significantly reduces drivers’ exposure to traffic.

In fact, some countries such as the United Kingdom have advised against the use of triangles on high-capacity roads. They consider it dangerous for occupants to leave the vehicle to place them. The V-16 responds to the same safety criterion, while also adding technological connectivity. On the one hand, the flashing light protects occupants by providing physical visibility; on the other, the system actively warns other drivers via navigators, mobility apps and variable message panels, allowing them to react safely to a stopped vehicle on the road.

According to the Director-General of Traffic, Pere Navarro, “the implementation of the connected V-16 represents a step forward and positions us as European leaders in road safety. It allows signalling without leaving the vehicle, avoids unnecessary risks and provides vital information to other road users. Warning triangles have served their purpose for twenty-six years, but technological progress allows us to continue improving. Our commitment is to reduce run-over accidents and protect people in emergency situations.”

Which vehicles must carry it?

In accordance with Annex XII of the General Vehicle Regulations, the vehicles required to carry this device—the only authorised means of signalling a breakdown or incident on the road—are passenger cars, vans, buses, mixed-use vehicles, lorries and non-special vehicle combinations. For motorcycles, authorities strongly recommend using it for safety reasons, even though the law does not require it.

The V-16 operates completely autonomously with an integrated SIM card. It does not require a mobile phone or any external applications. Telecommunications companies do not charge extra for this service. Regulations guarantee at least 12 years of connectivity included in the purchase price.

How to use the V-16

Store the beacon fully charged in the glove compartment or another accessible place inside the vehicle. If you need to use it, switch it on and place it from inside the vehicle at the highest possible point to maximise visibility.. If you cannot place it on the roof, as with buses and lorries, place it on the driver’s door.

Once activated and positioned, in addition to emitting the flashing light signal, it automatically transmits the exact location of the broken-down vehicle to the DGT 3.0 platform, so that drivers travelling through the affected area receive this information via navigators, mobility applications or variable message panels.

Once activated, and in accordance with Article 130.3 of Royal Decree 1428/2003 approving the General Traffic Regulations, in the event of an accident or breakdown, as a general rule, if the vehicle is immobilised and cannot continue, occupants must leave the vehicle whenever there is a safe place outside the roadway. In all cases, they must exit on the side opposite the flow of traffic and must not walk or remain on traffic lanes or shoulders. If traffic conditions do not allow occupants to leave the vehicle safely, they must remain inside with seat belts fastened.

Therefore, it is up to the driver to assess whether it is safe to leave the vehicle.

Which connected V-16 model should I buy?

There are more than 200 connected V-16 models on the market, with prices set by the market itself. A quick and simple way for citizens to check whether the beacon they intend to purchase is approved and certified is to consult the DGT website, in the V-16 section, which lists certified brands and models in accordance with regulations. All must be certified by IDIADA or LCOE, the authorised technical laboratories that confirm compliance with the required standards.

Clearing up doubts and false information

The introduction of the connected V-16 has generated doubts fuelled by incorrect or incomplete information, mainly on social media. Citizens are reminded of the importance of relying on official sources to avoid misinformation.

Below are clarifications of the main myths:

The V-16 will not really be mandatory

FALSE – The General Vehicle Regulations establish the obligation, which comes into force on 1 January 2026. From that date, the connected V-16 will be the only valid signalling device for immobilised vehicles.

The V-16 tracks me all the time or sends my personal data

FALSE – The V-16 only transmits the vehicle’s location when activated and solely for safety purposes. It does not record speed, does not track movements, and does not transmit personal data or identify the registration number. The data received by DGT is anonymised. The Spanish Data Protection Agency has confirmed that the beacon is not associated with a person or licence plate.

Any connected V-16 will do

FALSE – Only approved beacons listed by DGT after certified testing are valid. They must display the laboratory name and certificate number. Using an uncertified device is neither valid nor safe.

It needs an app or a mobile phone to work

FALSE – The V-16 already includes all necessary components, such as a GPS chip and a non-removable SIM card operating on telecommunications networks. You do not need any apps, phones, or pairing.

There will be a connectivity subscription fee

FALSE – The purchase price includes connectivity, with a mandatory minimum availability of 12 years at no extra cost.

It does not work in tunnels or areas without coverage

FALSE – The beacon uses specialised IoT networks capable of operating in difficult conditions. If no network is available, it will still function as a visual warning signal.

The V-16 calls emergency services or roadside assistance

FALSE – The V-16 does not call emergency services nor determine the nature of the incident. Its sole function is signalling and sending location data. The user must make any emergency or assistance call.

Warning triangles are safer

FALSE – Triangles require drivers to leave the vehicle and walk at least 100 metres along the roadway, significantly increasing the risk of being run over.

If I travel abroad, I must use triangles

FALSE – The V-16 is valid for Spanish vehicles travelling in countries that are signatories to the Vienna Convention, including Portugal, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Fines of up to €30,000

FALSE – The offence for not carrying a V-16 beacon is minor and carries a fine of €80, the same amount previously applied for not carrying warning triangles.

Source: DGT.es

Driving is Sharing

The DGT have launched a new road traffic campaign. It is called “Driving is sharing”.

Driving isn’t a solo act, folks! Many think they’re the lone rangers of the road, cruising through life with their steering skills as their shield against all perils. But let’s face it: road safety is a team sport!

That’s the gist behind the new awareness campaign that hit the airwaves recently, courtesy of the Traffic Department. With the catchy slogan “Over 40 million daily trips, yet some still think they’re driving solo,” they’re serving up a dose of reality. Through everyday scenarios, they’re showing drivers as both the problem and the solution.

In a friendly jab, they’re remixing Celine Dion’s classic “All By Myself” to showcase various drivers belting out tunes behind the wheel, thinking they own the road. But cue the reality check: the traffic jungle ain’t no solo gig, folks! Watch as their driving dreams collide with other cars, pedestrians, scooter riders, and whatnot.

The campaign, hitting screens and airwaves until April 12th, features TV spots ranging from 45 to 20 seconds, set to invade televisions, cinemas, and social media feeds. They’ve cooked up radio jingles, outdoor billboards, and print ads, along with bite-sized social media content, to drive the message home. So buckle up, amigos, and remember, it’s a highway, not your personal driveway!

Additionally, they’ve whipped up a webpage where users can play around with the campaign’s central concept, “you’re not alone,” through a video featuring a dual perspective. On one hand, you’ll experience the subjective view of the driver, complete with the campaign’s music. On the flip side, by hitting pause on the music, you’ll get a glimpse of the journey from the perspective of the other players: pedestrians, other cars, scooter riders, you name it. It’s like seeing the road through two sets of eyes, offering a quirky twist on the driving experience. So hop online and take a spin—it’s a wild ride!

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Motorcycle police check June 2023 Spain

As of June 15, 2023, 116 motorcyclists have died, 62 on weekends so far in 2023..

78% of motorcyclists who died did so on conventional roads.

57 motorcyclists died due to going off the road they were on, a type of accident in which no other vehicle is involved and in which a distraction or inappropriate speed is usually present.

It is a fact that with the arrival of good weather, motorcycle trips increase exponentially, especially on weekends when they become a recreational activity in itself.

For this reason, the General Directorate of Traffic carries out specific surveillance campaigns several times a year, in 2023 one of them this coming weekend and another in September, on the roads most frequented by motorists in order to control traffic. compliance with the most important regulations that affect motorcycle riding.

Motorcycle quotation

The number of motorcycle fatalities so far this year is above 2022 which makes the campaign that much more important.

The campaign, therefore, has the objective of trying to reduce fatal accidents involving this type of vehicle on weekends, for which the agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard will disseminate the importance of respecting the rules and verifying that they are met.

EXTREME CAUTION: WEEKENDS AND CONVENTIONAL ROADS

Of the 345 people killed in traffic accidents up to June 15, 116 were motorcyclists (33.6%) and, of those 116, 78% (90 motorcyclists) died on conventional roads. If we take into account the data of motorists killed on conventional roads at weekends, this amounts to 53 people, almost half of the total.

Source: DGT.es

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Seven out of ten drivers speed through roadworks

36 drivers were sanctioned for speeding at roadworks on interurban roads carried out by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) between September 24 and 30.

In addition, 242 were sanctioned for not respecting the signals, either from traffic agents, or from construction workers, vertical signs, road markings, traffic lights, cones or light beacons or any other type of specific signalling.

The agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard carried out for the first time surveillance and control dedicated to locations where roadworks were being undertaken on interurban roads.

According to data from the National Registry of Traffic Accident Victims, in 2021 there were 156 traffic accidents related to road maintenance personnel, of which 19 involved operators who worked or walked on the road or its surroundings as pedestrians.

Of these 19 accidents there were 7 workers who suffered injuries and 2 lost their lives hit by a vehicle that was either travelling at excessive speed or whose driver was distracted. The other 137 traffic accidents involved maintenance workers inside their vehicles. In addition, so far this year, 2 maintenance workers have died while performing their duties on the road.

For all these reasons, during the week of October 24 to 30, 140,711 vehicles were controlled, of which 4,679 were sanctioned for different reasons. The main cause of sanction corresponds to speeding on road works sections, an infraction committed by 73% of the sanctioned drivers.

In addition, of the 4,727 sanctions filed, 242 corresponded to the lack of respect for signs, whether by traffic surveillance agents, construction workers, vertical signs, road markings, traffic lights, cones or light beacons or any other signage.

During the campaign, 153 drivers who drove using their mobile phones on these sections of works and 140 who did not use their seat belts were also sanctioned. In addition, 53 were sanctioned for driving under the influence of alcohol and 11 for the presence of drugs in the body.

Also worrying are the 34 sanctions filed for negligent driving, the 30 for not respecting the safety distance, the 24 for illegal overtaking in those areas or the 22 for equally illegal lane changes.

Source: DGT

Road Safety Spain Speeding

No current ITV makes up 56% of offences in recent road traffic campaign

No current ITV makes up 56% of offences in a week long campaign run by the Spanish authorities.

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Road safety teaching in Spain

DGT resources for road safety teaching in Spanish schools

The next school year, which is about to start, will be the first in which primary, secondary and high school students receive basic training in road safety thanks to its inclusion in the school curriculum through various Royal decrees. These ensure road safety is taught at primary, secondary and baccalaureate levels. This will allow not only to develop active, autonomous and healthy mobility habits among minors, but also to encourage attitudes of respect that affect the prevention of traffic accidents.

After the publication of the aforementioned Royal Decrees, which incorporate the basic, specific and mandatory skills and content in safe and sustainable mobility at all educational stages, both the autonomous communities and the schools are in charge of specifying, expanding and giving shape to these contents that will be evaluable and that will be integrated transversally in different subjects such as Knowledge of the Environment or Education in Values and, in a special way, in Physical Education.

The educational resources, through different programs and materials, will be adapted to the specific needs of each stage. At Primary level they will be focus on promoting the values of active, healthy, safe and sustainable mobility, helping, for example, the extension of safe school paths or the incorporation of the bicycle as a regular vehicle for schoolchildren. At Secondary and Baccalaureate levels they will focus more on road safety values.

In order to help implement these contents, the General Directorate of Traffic will make these resources available to all those schools that wish to do so, either through its website or through the Provincial Coordinators of Road Education present. in each Provincial Traffic Headquarters and that they will be available to support those who need it in this process.

Road Safety Spain

Road traffic law changes approved by spanish congress

It was back in November 2018 that the Spanish government embarked on a journey to amended the road traffic laws in Spain as mentioned in our article Tougher Law for using mobile phones pointed out at the time. This included an increase from three to six penalty points for using a mobile phone.

In November 2020 the Council of Ministers approved the various reforms and now congress has also approved the amendments which includes four points (not three) for not wearing a seatbelt. There was one notable adjustment to the original plans, however.

There has been a rule in Spain that on conventional roads out of town a driver could exceed the maximum speed limit by 20kph if the vehicle they were overtaking was not actually travelling at the maximum speed limit permitted. This lee-way was to be withdrawn under the original drafted new plans. However, after an amendment passed by just one vote the removal of this excess speed in these particular circumstances has been dropped.

It will also be law to wear a helmet when using an electric scooter.

These measures will now be sent to the Spanish Senate.

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100 most dangerous sections of road in Spain

The Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, accompanied by four time World Champion motorcycle rider Jorge Martinez Aspar, gave a presentation last week in which he told the audience that new signage would be displayed in the 100 most dangerous sections of road in Spain for motorcyclists. The idea is to give greater warning to motorists driving along these segments of the road network.

Averaging around 2 kilometres each in length the dangerous sections of road reach across the whole Spanish territory. A study of the sinuosity of the road and the mortality rate over the last five years helped identify the dangerous stretches.

Referring to the data held on the accident rates for motorcyclists he focused on the magnitude of the problem faced. Grande-Marlaska said, “When faced with a problem in road safety, the first thing to do is to inform and educate the user and then monitor and control compliance with the regulations that affect them.”

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A list of the 100 most dangerous sections of road in Spain

The DGT website has a complete list of the 100 most dangerous sections of road in Spain.

These chunks of the road network will now feature new signage. The new high-visibility road signs warn you that your speed may monitored. In addition, the authorities have added the mortality rate over the last few years in an attempt to force home the seriousness of the message.

More surveillance

The first sign has already appeared on the M131 at kilometre 4.3. The full roll-out is expected to be completed before Easter 2021. The plan is for further studies to try and improve the design of these sections. In the meantime, those responsible for monitoring road safety will intensify their efforts on these particular sections of the road network. Expect more surveillance and control by the road traffic authorities. This includes the use of police helicopters and drones to monitor traffic speed and illegal road maneuvers.

Part of the drive behind these latest efforts is that 2019 saw 466 motorcyclists die on Spanish roads, 45 more than the previous year. Motorcycles comprise a significant percentage of the fleet of vehicles on Spanish roads. In fact, 5.5 million two-wheeled vehicles exist in the country, which represents 19% of total vehicles but 27% of those killed in traffic accidents.

The majority of deaths were riders between the ages of 35 and 44. Most deaths occurred at the weekend on secondary roads.

Source: DGT.es

DGT Road Safety Spain Speeding

You are under surveillance

From today and until 20 September there will be extra surveillance under the management of the Traffic Authorities (DGT) on Spain’s road network. It is part of an annual programme of special events and is extra significant as distractions are the one of the biggest cause of fatalities on the roads. In 2019 and for the fourth year running distraction was the main factor in 28% of road fatalities.

This year the municipal police will also be involved in order to further strengthen the campaign. One of the main results of distraction is a head on collision with another vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.

The authorities have 12 helicopters, drones, 216 fixed cameras and fifteen unmarked vans at their disposal.

In order to avoid distractions, the traffic authorities recommend the following:

• Before taking the wheel: Sleep well, do not ingest alcohol and other drugs, do not eat large meals, take care of the intake of certain medications.
• On the way: Better not to smoke, and if you feel drowsy, stop.
• Maintain a comfortable temperature: 21 or 22 degrees is an advisable temperature.
• Careful with the mobile: It is an important cause of distractions. Use only for emergencies and with the car stopped. It is recommended to activate the ” car mode ” in those devices that have it.
• Radio / MP3: Handling them distracts us, systems that are controlled directly from the wheel are advisable. Programming stations and CDs before the trip is a good option.
• Traveling with GPS: Trying to program a route while traveling is very dangerous. It must be done before.

THE MOBILE: THE KING OF DISTRACTIONS

One of the main reasons for driver distraction is the use of a mobile phone while driving. Its use multiplies by four the risk of suffering an accident and the risk is comparable to driving with excess alcohol.

Using the mobile phone while driving means taking your eyes off the road for a certain time in which you travel a series of metres without the driver having control of the vehicle, since the attention is focused on the mobile.

According to the latest Distractions report prepared by RACE, 96% of the surveyed users confessed to having seen someone talking on their mobile while driving (80% on a regular basis) and 76% said they used it without speaking, only manipulating or looking at it. The report details that in the case of social networks, 18% of drivers admit to having used social networks while driving, of which 12% do so regularly. This percentage increases to 17% among young people between 18 and 24 years old.

OTHER FACTORS THAT CAUSE DISTRACTION

• Sleep and fatigue are two risk factors that are very unknown and at the same time highly implicated in road accidents: rear ending, leaving the road, or invading the opposite lane are very frequent types of accidents due to these factors.

• Smoking and driving: lighting a cigarette takes an average of 4 seconds. At a speed of 100 km / h, in that time we will have traveled 113 metres. According to the conclusions of various research studies, smoking while driving multiplies the risk of an accident by 1.5.

WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY?

The Road Safety Law considers it a serious offense to drive using mobile phone devices, Sat Navs or any other communication system manually, as well as driving using headphones or other devices that reduce the mandatory permanent attention to driving.

These infractions involve a fine of 200 euros and the loss of 3 points.

Source: DGT

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Car accident caused by an animal in Spain

Wild animals, escaped farm or pet animals can be a real danger to road users as well as the animal. As drivers you should be vigilant, especially if you see road signage that warns you that wild animals might be in the area and potentially crossing the road.

Animals are not always alone either so if you see one near the road others may well be nearby. You should adjust your speed and remain vigilant. Despite our best efforts animals are unpredictable and accidents do occur.

What should you do if you suddenly come across an animal in your way on the road?

Avoid using the car horn.

If driving at night switch the lights to dipped so as not to dazzle the animal.

Try and avoid swerving. This could cause you to involve other vehicles coming the other way.

Push down on the brake firmly or progressively depending on your speed and the road conditions.

Just before impact lift off the brake to raise the front of the car. This should reduce the chances of the animal hitting the windscreen.

Do not look at the animal and focus on where you can stop your car safely.

Who is responsible if I hit an animal?

If you are involved in an accident with a wild animal, then the responsibility for the accident nearly always is yours. If not a wild animal and the animal is on the road because of a poorly maintained fence, for example, or the animal is a pet then the owner of the animal may be responsible.

Does my car insurance in Spain cover me for accidents with animals?

That depends on which company and what actions you take after the incident. Some Spanish insurance companies include the cover as standard. With other companies it is an optional extra. The additional cost is often minimal. The protection against accidents with animals is not only available to people taking fully comprehensive insurance in Spain. It can often be included or added to third party fire and theft policies as well.

It is important to remember that insurance companies will need you to provide a police report. So make sure you call the Police/Guardia Civil out to the incident.

You may need to call roadside assistance if your car is badly damaged to have it taken to a local garage. Do not forget to report the accident to your insurance company and get a copy of the police report at the time if possible.

Source: www.dgt.es

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