Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

This from Money Saver Spain newsletter today:-

The new emergency light you need asap If you have a car, from this year you can start to use the new V16 emergency light rather than warning triangles. From 2024 you must have a V16 light as the triangles will no longer be valid in the case of a car accident or breakdown.

The new light has several advantages over the triangles, including:

• No need to get out of your vehicle as you can just place the light on the car roof from your window (this will avoid accidents that can happen when placing triangles on busy roads)
• Ease of use: the light comes with a magnet, once placed on the car roof it will light up immediately
• Visible from 1km, even in poor weather

Watch out with cheap versions that may not last or even work when you need them. Here are a couple of recommended brands that meet the Traffic Directorate requirements, available at Norauto, FeuVert and Amazon Spain:

• Help Flash (designed by two ex-Guardia Civil members)
• MotorKit

If you have more than one vehicle, it could be cheaper to buy a pack with two lights, at the links you'll find more options.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Where has this idea come from? Guardia Civil? Just curious.
I can't really see all the cars in Spain converting to these instead of a six euro triangle. I wonder if it'll be like the breathalyser kit you're supposed to have in France.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

It’s nothing to do with the Guardia as such. Too many people are getting killed on the hard shoulder putting out two triangles.

When the time limit to get one runs out, the Guardia will take great delight in fining you if you haven’t got one. Personally I think it is a great improvement on the triangles and I would not be surprised to see them as standard kit when you buy a new car just as triangles are now.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

If you look on the n332 site, they state that this information is incorrect.

What are we to believe?

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

What information is incorrect?

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Carrying "Ethylotests" in your car is no longer compulsory in France.
Is the need for this V16 light a European thing, or just Spanish? AFAIK there's been no mention of it in France....

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Yes, you're right. It is no longer a requirement in France. Maybe I should have used the past tense in the sentence.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Actually it never was compulsory.

The law to compel it under penalty of a fine was never enacted so with no penalty carrying them became entirely optional.

It was a stupid law which was never going to make one jot of difference to drink driving.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

N332 says this

https://n332.es/tag/warning-triangles/

I mentioned it to some Spanish friends and they were aware and Amazon have sold over 3500 of one of the many types available - so whilst it may not be law yet it looks to me as if it is coming and whatever is coming I am planning to buy one because to me it makes a lot of sense and is easier and safer to deploy.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Whilst I agree, it is still the law that you must carry and then deploy triangles.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

These V16 lights seem like a big improvement. I'd not heard of them as yet, nor indeed the website n332.
For those who speak Spanish & might wish to practise some, I'd recommend the DGT magazine "Seguridad Vial" which for €8 per year is well worth the money.
Search the DGT website for information.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

the website is https://help-flash.com - their prices is €29,95.

but they are avaliable on pccomponentes for € 19,94 - https://www.pccomponentes.com/help-f...oC3EoQAvD_BwE&

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Lots of options on Amazon

https://www.amazon.es/s?k=Luz+de+eme...f=nb_sb_noss_2

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

i suppose the only requirement is that it has to be v16 certified ?

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Maybe, as the rules haven't changed yet, who knows? Triangles must still be carried and deployed

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Update from Money Saver Spain today

Final approved law on the new emergency light for vehicles https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1f6a8
Well, that was a surprise! The law that has finally been approved regarding the use of the V16 emergency lights has amended the date from when they will be mandatory from 2024 to 1 Jan 2026. The new V16 light can be used from 1 July this year (see DGT official info), you can buy one in lots of stores or on Amazon Spain. Currently the V16 lights do not need to have GPS functionality, but from 1 Jan 2026 this functionality must be included.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Aldi were selling them last weekend at 10 Euros each.
I was there at 09.00 when they opened and bought two, the shelf was cleared by 09.10.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

What to do if you have ragtop?

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

You locate it on the highest point of your car which is metal I guess.

Buying cheap ones now is probably a waste of time and money because they will not comply when the law is finally implemented because you will need the GPS functionality.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

I would imagine that the light without GPS would still be legal to use after 2026 if one already has one certainly for a period of time. Just as Triangles are still legal to use untill 2024. I would guess once they change in 2026 it will be illegal to sell them without GPs as they wouldn't comply with new legislation. I can't find any at the moment that have GPS inbuilt?

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

GPS or not, its still much safer for the driver to bung a light on the roof of the car than mess about in the boot finding and assembling triangles then pacing up and down the road to place them, all risking being hit by another vehicle. I'm getting one.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

They really are a good idea but not new. I bought one about 25 years ago from Halfords for a disabled friend. The sides were made of either plastic or glass, can’t remember and they provided stickers to stick on saying ‘Disabled’. You could put it to intermittent so it flashed ‘Disabled’ on and off intermittently alerting people that someone needed help. Of course you didn’t have to put the stickers on if not needed.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Many thanks spainrico. We will be looking to buy one soon. Great post

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

There are many advantages to these lights over triangles and yes accidents can occur when placing out triangles. However generally the advice is not to sit in your broken down vehicle but if possible get out of the vehicle to a safe place off the road preferably behind a barrier to await recovery. So although I agree these lights are easily place without walking towards traffic to place triangles. However I wouldn't suggest the safest thing to do is then just sit in your vehicle. Circumstances and common sense should dictate.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

I can think of an instance where a triangle would be necessary too. Broken down on a bend a flashing light might have limited visibility. A triangle carefully placed just around/on the bend would give additional warning.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

Gold point, as I say safety and common sense must apply as well as complying with the law.

Re: Warning triangles - so yesterday!
 

If anyone is interested we bought one in Consum super market yesterday called Help flash smart( G.P.S link) Reduced from 39.99 to 24.99.My wife said they had sold quite a lot already. Thanks again spainrico :thumbup: