V16 Beacons: Spain’s Most Controversial Connected Vehicle Initiative

This is now Spain's most controversial smart solution. The V16 emergency beacon. As of 2026, all (Spanish) cars will have to have them. So what are they, what is the controversy and what do drivers think about it? They are the protagonists of a project by DGT, Spain's traffic authority, and are to be used in emergency situations. When drivers on the road find themselves in a situation that forces them to stop, they are to activate the beacon, equipped with a built-in SIM card and put it on the roof of the car. The beacon lights up to visually warn other drivers and sends location data to a central platform from DGT, which then alerts other drivers to where there’s a stationary car on the road through Waze, Google Maps, and other navigation systems, as well as road announcement boards. The goal of the project is to improve safety through connected cars, and to stop drivers from getting out of their cars to put down the warning triangles, which can lead to very dangerous situations. So far, so good, right? So where's the issue? The first complaints came from drivers. Price was one of the issues. Normally it's between 30 to €50 to acquire a V16, whereas warning triangles have an average cost of €15. Then there was the lack of information. People weren't sure which beacon brand was the correct one. Then there was a feeling of them being useless compared to triangles due to the low visibility of the light. It's been a month since the beacon became compulsory and some think it's a good idea. Others not so much. For me, the beacon is a complement to safety. It doesn’t replace warning triangles, or at least it shouldn’t. There are situations where triangles can prevent an accident, but the beacon cannot. The other day I was in the car, and I got a warning on Google Maps that there was a stationary car. And that’s because they (the car) had the beacon. It’s true that you can’t see the beacon from far away, but it does show up on the navigation system. We’ve already seen in the news, that there are situations in which the beacons aren’t effective enough. The general population is complaining that this is just more money for someone who will benefit from this. (Regarding price) I bought mine on AliExpress or Temu (They’re expensive) considering they’re compulsory. But at the beginning, triangles were also expensive and we had to buy the vest. So if this is something that will stick for some time... The worrying opinions came from police, emergency responders and consumer associations. They're concerned about privacy and safety. This is a mistake. A flawed approach. Because we already had a a system in place that was safe, simple and economic. It creates more insecurity. Because it confuses people. If you’re on a change of gradient, or an sharp turn The beacon doesn’t help. If you’re on a mountain road (with many turns) and stop after a blind turn, the beacon won’t help. They're also concerned about the recommendation with the V16 to stay inside the stationary car. The initial idea with the beacon is that, because it’s magnetic, that you put it on the roof without getting out of the car. So it’s a good idea to stop people from walking on the road. But the issue still remains. You don’t get out but if someone crashes into your car, you’re in the vehicle. So it’s problematic. Privacy issues have also arisen and the Civil Guard has alerted of possible thefts and scams, as there are maps online showing where V16 beacons have been activated. Criminals can find these and pose as an official insurance tow truck, taking the car or demanding money, or simply assaulting the stranded drivers. The project is an amazing step in the direction of connected vehicles. Theoretically, it's a great way to alert of issues in real time. However, in a time and country in which most cars still aren't connected and in which most trips are done without Google Maps or Waze, people know their way to work, for example, this project seems to have come ahead of time. Police and civil Guard have recommended still using triangles. It is an example of a smart project in which intentions and theory were good, but user and authority opinions clash with them. But we'll see how it goes and keep you informed.