Drivers in Spain can use new emergency lights instead of triangles as of today

The new V-16 flashing emergency lights will be gradually taking over from triangles between now and the end of 2025 to reduce fatal accidents when drivers are hit by other vehicles after breaking down on Spanish roads.

A new law that has come into force on Thursday (1 July) means drivers in Spain may now stop using warning triangles in case of breakdowns or accidents and pop a V-16 emergency flashing light on their car roofs instead.

The lights will gradually replace triangles in an attempt to reduce the risks of drivers being injured or killed by other vehicles after their cars break down or are involved in a crash. While there is no official data for Catalonia or the Basque Country, the DGT traffic authority reports that 28 citizens were run over and died while putting warning triangles out on roads in Spain in 2019 and 2020, and another four died in January 2021 alone, making it a very dangerous activity.  

The so-called V-16 emergency lights are small devices that drivers will have to keep in their glove compartments or other easy-to-reach places in the front of the car so that if they have to stop on or beside the road they can reach out of their window and place their warning light on the roof of the vehicle. 

While triangles remain legal until the end of 2025, as of 1 January 2026 all vehicles will be required to carry a V-16 light with geolocation. 

There are quite a few of these lights on the market, but those looking at the cheap and cheerful options should bear in mind that the low-cost models may not come with geolocation systems that automatically inform emergency services and/or motor insurance companies of the vehicle’s position, meaning they will have to fork out for another one within a few years, so be aware of this when making a purchase.