· This is revealed by a study conducted by the market research platform Appinio for Netun Solutions, the company behind the Help Flash connected emergency lights.
· The survey shows that only 12.4% of respondents know that the V-16 lights that will be mandatory are the connected ones.
Madrid, March 30, 2025.- There are eight months left until all vehicles registered in Spain must carry a V-16 warning light so they can be seen by other road users in the event of an incident. Although warning triangles will no longer be used to signal a breakdown or accident starting January 1, 2026, many people are still unaware of the implementation of this measure.
According to a study conducted by market research platform Appinio for Netun Solutions, the leading company in vehicle light signaling in the event of a road incident and creator of the Help Flash connected emergency lights , although the vast majority of people know what V-16 emergency lights are and can explain what they are for, 48% of Spanish drivers are still unaware that these signaling devices will be mandatory from January 1, 2026.
Only 12.4% know that the V-16s that will be mandatory are the connected ones
The figure is even more worrying when analyzing awareness of what type of V-16 lights will be mandatory. The study reveals that only 1 in 10 respondents, 12.4%, knows that the only emergency beacons that will be legal are connected ones, that is, those that include IoT technology, which indicates connectivity, allowing signaling to be not only visual but also virtual.
"These data reveal a worrying lack of information among drivers. It is essential that authorities strengthen information campaigns regarding the mandatory use of connected V-16 lights. Furthermore, we recommend drivers get their approved beacons early and purchase them as soon as possible to avoid availability issues later in the year," says Alejandro González, CMO of Netun Solutions.
To avoid confusion, from Netun Solutions They explain that, when purchasing a connected V-16 light, you must confirm that it is approved by the DGT by visiting the entity's website .
Advantages of V-16 lights over safety triangles
Beyond avoiding fines, carrying a connected V-16 warning light in your vehicle can save lives. The warning light has many advantages over the emergency triangle: it can be positioned from inside the passenger compartment, without even having to remove the seat belt; it's easy to activate; its small size makes it suitable for all types of vehicles, including motorcycles; and it's also suitable for people with reduced mobility.
However, connected V-16 lights, in addition to visually signaling vehicles, also do so virtually by immediately, automatically, and anonymously sending a notification to the DGT traffic control center indicating the vehicle's exact location. This information is shared in real time through the DGT 3.0 Platform and the National Access Point with other road users.
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About Appinio study
A total of 250 drivers participated in this survey, which was conducted between December 26 and 27, 2024. Half of them were women and the other half were men. The average age of the respondents was 44.8 years.
