Pere Navarro, general director of traffic, warns Spanish drivers against the obligatory V16 beacon: “Let’s not fool ourselves”

In this search for increase road safety and reduce accidentsthe organization chaired by Pere Navarro has established a new measure that will come into force from January 1, 2026 and has been indicated for months.

It is the obligation to wear the V16 device on the vehicle, replacing the triangles to indicate that it has stopped on the road or that its load has fallen on it, as indicated by the DGT.

“It’s a little yellow beacon that It is equipped with connectivity and is capable of emitting high intensity light 360º intermittently and continuously for at least 30 minutes.. It incorporates a cell or battery with a useful life of at least 18 months, whether rechargeable or not,” we can read on the public body’s website.

THE V16 It should be placed in the glove box so that it can be activated in a few seconds if necessary in the event of a breakdown or accident, preferably placing it on top of the vehicle. Once activated, approved beacons, which are valid, will connect to the DGT 3.0 platform “to transmit your position in real time and inform other road users of the situation”.

Pere Navarro, clear on the use of V16 beacons approved by the DGT

Less than a few days before the use of this device becomes mandatory, many already own it or are considering purchasing it and, during the first uses, many are already starting to appreciate it. whether this tag is useful and effective or not.

Between doubts and reluctance, the general director of traffic, Pere Navarro, wanted to clarify certain points concerning the V16. First of all, it highlights official data on accidents due to walking on the road to place the triangles: “Every year, there are between 20 and 25 deaths due to accidents when getting out of the car”. Although he acknowledges that not all of them would be due to the location of the triangles, he indicates that this can also be a way to avoid it.

Navarro says the main objective is to consolidate the use of this system, which he considers “an improvement in the face of the obvious risk of being run over on the road.” However, he warns that using the beacon is not enough in the event of an accident or incident on the road:

“There are those who think that by installing the V16 everything is over. No. This is simply to warn you that a kilometer and a half away there is a vehicle stopped on the road following an incident. It’s not for anything else. YesYou must still call your insurance company to have the tow truck come remove the car or repair the damage. One thing does not replace the other, make no mistake“.

After this warning, Navarro puffs out his chest, reaffirming that the V16 “It’s a Spanish invention” and affirms that in Spain “we are the first country in the world to do so”.

In addition, he explains that you have to be patient about how the V16 works: “There are a lot of waits to see what the result will be, but they are waiting to see how it works (in the rest of the countries). I think it’s everyone’s business. We ask you to post it and when, once, starting in January, we will all follow up to be able to evaluate the usefulness and result of the V16“, declared the director of the DGT while speaking to the media after the inauguration of the new provincial traffic chief of Badajoz, José Luis Capilla.