The new v-16 hazard gentle, which all drivers in Spain should have from subsequent 12 months, has been inflicting controversy, notably as a result of its obligatory geolocation characteristic. Here’s what you’ll want to find out about it.
Starting on January 1st 2026, all autos in Spain should carry a V-16 emergency gentle, for use within the occasion of a breakdown or street accident.
The present warning triangles will now not be allowed from subsequent 12 months, so everybody should buy a V-16.
In order to be accredited by Spain’s DGT site visitors authority, they should have a number of vital options together with transmitting your geolocation in actual time to Spain’s DGT site visitors authority and an LED gentle vivid sufficient to be seen from 1,000 metres away and at 360 levels.
One of probably the most controversial and talked-about factors of this emergency gentle is its built-in geolocation system. Because the SIM card might be linked to the DGT platform in actual time, many consider this implies they are going to be below fixed surveillance from the site visitors authority. They assume that the DGT could use it to trace autos and problem fines accordingly.
READ ALSO: Spain’s V16 gentle – Everything drivers have to know
In response to the rumours, the Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has issued a press release debunking the parable and explaining how geolocation within the V-16 lights will work.
“While it’s not activated, the beacon doesn’t transmit any information,” the AEPD mentioned in a press release. This means the V16 sign solely seems within the DGT system round 100 seconds after the motive force presses the sunshine, thus turning on the system.
“The beacon emits a sign whereas it’s switched on and stops when it’s switched off, with out producing motion logs or repeatedly transmitting information.” Therefore, there is no such thing as a approach to use the knowledge it emits to problem fines, the AEDP clarified.
READ ALSO – Driving in Spain: Which V-16 emergency gentle must you purchase?
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Head of Telematics at ​​the DGT, Monserrat Estaca, additionally defined in an interview with Spanish newspaper 20 Minutos that: “The one that acquires the beacon doesn’t have to provide their private information to any administration when buying it, so the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) wouldn’t know who has purchased the system.”   Â
This primarily signifies that the sign is totally nameless and the site visitors authority is just conscious {that a} breakdown or accident has occurred at that time on the street, however they don’t know who’s sending it.
The solely approach through which the DGT will use this geolocation information is to show the incident on roadside panels and within the navigation system, in order that different drivers know to remember.
It just isn’t but clear whether or not the knowledge might be displayed platforms like Google Maps.
It’s vital to recollect although that the V-16 gentle just isn’t used as an emergency alert system. This means drivers nonetheless have to name emergency providers in case of an accident or a breakdown firm or insurer if their automotive is now not working.
READ ALSO: Police slam new obligatory V-16 emergency gentle for drivers in Spain
