Spain's DGT Contemplates Removing Warning Triangles From Roads Amid Safety Concerns

With a total of 16 people being killed on the roads in Spain last year, after leaving their cars to position the warning triangle, the Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) is reported to be “assessing” the warning triangle law.

At present, it is mandatory that in the event of an accident or breakdown, a warning triangle should be placed behind a vehicle on all Spanish dual carriageways and motorways to warn other motorists. Failure to do this can result in a fine of up to 200 euros.

However, with one in ten road traffic accidents resulting in the loss of life, DGT director Pere Navarro, expressed that anyone who is required to step out of their vehicle, even for a short period of time, is vulnerable. Drivers and passengers are obligated to wear a high-vis jacket as soon as they leave their vehicle, but stepping out onto the road is still extremely dangerous.

Speaking about the possible change in the law on Tuesday, April 4, Mr. Navarro said “We are concerned, on the motorways and dual carriageways, about people getting out of their car. Last year, there were 16 deaths on the highways who had gotten out of the vehicle.”

The DGT’s current plan is that from January 1, 2026, all vehicles circulating on Spanish roads will be required, by law, to carry a V16 warning beacon.

This new legislation was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on December 21, 2022, where it established that the V16 beacons will replace the existing warning triangles, which have been the legal requirement since 1999.

The new beacons will mean that a driver is not required to leave the vehicle to place a warning triangle in the road, putting themselves at risk. Instead, the beacon can be placed on the roof of the vehicle by reaching out through the car window. Once added to the roof, a broken-down vehicle can easily be seen by other drivers from up to 1 km away.

V16 beacons have been available to use since July 1, 2021, but until 2026, drivers may still continue to use the traditional warning triangles as well. However, any beacons that don’t have the built-in functionality to connect to the DGT 3.0 Platform, will need to be replaced by then.

Sources

https://murciatoday.com/spain_considers_scrapping_warning_triangles_due_to_number_of_road_accidents_they_cause_2080234-a.html