Mandatory in Spain from 2026: Why the V16 warning light replaces the warning triangle

Introduction: The end of the warning triangle

For more than fifty years, the warning triangle was a fixed part of every car in Europe.
A symbol of safety – and at the same time a relic from a time when traffic safety was determined solely by visibility. But the world has changed: roads are busier, vehicles faster, and technological progress allows new solutions.

A revolution is now underway in Spain. From January 1, 2026, the warning triangle will be officially abolished and replaced by the V16 warning light – a modern, connected system designed to save lives.

This change is part of a larger safety program by the Spanish traffic authority DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico). The goal is to drastically reduce the number of accidents during breakdowns on highways.
Because: Every year dozens of people die just because they leave their car to set up a warning triangle.

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1. The trigger: Accidents while setting up the warning triangle

According to DGT, about 20% of all fatal traffic accidents on highways are due to situations where drivers have left their vehicle – mostly to place a warning triangle.

A brief moment of inattention, poor visibility, or heavy traffic is enough, and the driver is hit by another car.
Especially at night or in bad weather, the risk is enormous.

Example:
A driver breaks down at night on a Spanish highway, places the warning triangle 50 meters behind the vehicle – as required. But on an unlit road with 120 km/h traffic, another driver often recognizes the danger too late.

With the V16 light, this exact risk is eliminated. The driver stays in the vehicle, activates the light, and makes their car immediately visible – without putting themselves in danger.

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2. The law: The new obligation from 2026

The legal basis for the new regulation is the Royal Decree 159/2021, which came into force on July 1, 2021.
It regulates the use and approval of the new safety lights and defines the transition phase until 2026.

The main points:

• 2021 to 2025:
  Drivers may voluntarily use the V16 light instead of the warning triangle.

• From January 1, 2026:
  Only connected V16 lights are allowed.
  Warning triangles lose their validity.

• Approval:
  Every V16 must be tested and approved (homologated) by the DGT.

The requirement applies to all vehicles registered in Spain – including private cars, company vehicles, rental cars, and delivery vehicles alike.
Tourists with foreign license plates are not legally required but are expressly encouraged to carry a V16 light.

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3. What distinguishes the V16 from the warning triangle?

While the warning triangle is a passive safety device based on reflection, the V16 is an active warning light that emits light and is visible in all directions.

3.1 The main differences at a glance