The DGT clarifies which vehicles are not required to have the V-16 emergency light.

The V-16 emergency warning light will become mandatory at the beginning of next year . On January 1, 2026, the connected beacon will replace triangles for signaling vehicles immobilized on the road, allowing drivers to activate the signal from inside the vehicle and improve safety in the event of a breakdown. To date, the V-16 signal coexists with triangles , although its use remains limited, and many motorists remain unsure about its mandatory nature, installation, and operation.

The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) has recently wanted to clarify some of these doubts through a tweet published on its official X account. In it, the institution headed by Pere Navarro points out that motorcycles are not required to carry the V-16 light connected, and reminds that not all vehicles can place it on the roof, which is the recommended location to ensure maximum visibility.

According to current regulations, the connected V-16 beacon will be mandatory for passenger cars, buses, adaptable mixed vehicles, vehicles used for the transport of goods, and non-specialized vehicles. It must be mounted on the highest points of the vehicle, preferably on the roof.

Motorcycles, therefore, are exempt from this obligation, as are other vehicles that do not permit the beacon to be mounted in a high, visible position. In these cases, the regulations do not require the installation of the beacon, although drivers may voluntarily use it to improve their road safety.

When it's not possible to mount the V-16 on the roof, regulations allow it to be installed at the highest points on the side of the vehicle, preferably on the driver's side. Thanks to its built-in magnet, the beacon can be attached to any metal surface on the vehicle, ensuring it remains stable and visible.

In addition to physical visibility, the DGT reminds us that the connected V-16 signal offers virtual visibility when activated. At that moment, it sends a signal to the Traffic Management Centers, which allows other road users to be notified of the location of the incident.

This system increases road safety, especially on stretches of road with poor visibility or heavy traffic, and reduces the risk of accidents by providing advance warning of immobilized vehicles. According to the DGT (Directorate-General for Traffic), between 2019 and 2022 alone, 42 deaths were directly attributed to collisions with drivers who were attempting to position the triangles on high-capacity roads.

In any case, the DGT insists that triangles will remain valid during this transition phase, although the trend is for the connected V-16 to become the standard due to its ease of use and greater signaling effectiveness.

This last point, however, continues to generate debate among experts and road safety associations. "These lights are not a panacea or a definitive solution. In areas with many curves or poor visibility, the V-16 beacon simply isn't visible in time to avoid an accident," warns Diego Madrazo, secretary of institutional relations at the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC), in statements to La Vanguardia 's Moveo channel, which you can read at this link .