The Royal Decree on Roadside Assistance comes into force, whereby emergency triangles will be replaced by V-16 light signals.
On July 1, 2021, the Roadside Assistance Royal Decree, approved last March by the Council of Ministers, came into force . This decree regulates roadside assistance services. As of this date, the previously known regulations regarding roadside incident signaling have changed. All this with the aim of reducing the number of road accidents .
And although a puncture, engine failure, or minor collision may seem insignificant at first glance, it can pose a risk to both the driver of the vehicle involved in the incident and other road users.
Equipping your car with warning triangles is no longer mandatory.
Until now, approved warning triangles were mandatory. According to the General Vehicle Regulations, they must be placed at a distance of approximately 50 meters in front of the vehicle and another 50 meters behind it. On one-way roads, the sign is only required behind the vehicle, and only if traffic conditions permit. However, these portable hazard warning devices may only be replaced with the V-16 emergency light starting July 1, 2021. Thus, the warning light will not only become the best signaling option but will also be the legal substitute for the triangle.
Both devices will coexist from July 2021 until January 1, 2026 , the date that marks the final retirement of safety triangles. After that date, both triangles and V-16 lights without connectivity will no longer be valid, making way for the more advanced IoT solution .
From now on we must leave the vehicle and remain in a safe place outside the platform.
On the other hand, the Royal Decree not only changes the rules for road signage, but also modifies the way in which both the driver and the occupants of the immobilized vehicle must act . It explains: "Occupants must leave the vehicle, provided there is a safe place outside the traffic platform and, in any case, they must exit the vehicle on the side opposite the flow of traffic, without using it or remaining in the lanes and shoulders that make up said platform." In any case, if traffic conditions do not allow the occupants to safely leave the vehicle, they must remain in the passenger compartment with their seatbelts fastened.
The alternative to risky situations
There are many advantages to warning lights like Help Flash over emergency triangles. They can be installed from inside the passenger compartment , without even having to remove the seat belt; they activate automatically ; their small size means they fit all types of vehicles, including motorcycles; and they are also suitable for people with reduced mobility .
Plus, it's quick and easy to operate: simply stick it on the vehicle's metal surface or press the power button to begin emitting a flashing yellow light. Its parabolic reflector with LED technology allows the car or motorcycle to be visible in all directions and up to 1 km away, even in low light and adverse weather conditions.
