As of July 1, it is no longer mandatory to place warning triangles on motorways or dual carriageways. Coinciding with the first day of the month, an instruction from the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) came into force that exempts drivers from putting said alert elements when they are forced to stop their vehicle on a fast road due to an accident , a breakdown or any other reason.
The measure, announced months ago by Pere Navarro, General Director of Traffic, was adopted with the aim of reducing the number of people who die run over on these types of roads. According to DGT statistics, in the last five years there have been an average of 22 fatal accidents per year for this reason.
The instruction will be in force until the last day of 2025, since as of January 1, 2026 all motorists must carry the V16 connected light signal in the vehicle, which will put an end to the triangles. With the elimination of the obligation to place these last pre-signposting elements on express roads, Tráfico intends to prevent drivers from getting out of their cars and walking along the shoulder to place the triangles, thus eliminating the risk of being run over.
During the period of validity of the instruction, traffic agents may not fine drivers for not using warning triangles on motorways or dual carriageways. However, they may penalize motorists who do not signal the stop of their vehicle on conventional roads, where triangles are mandatory if the V-16 signal is not available, with the corresponding fine of 200 euros.
Now, when a driver is forced to stop his vehicle on a highway or highway, what should he do? How should he act to warn other motorists and not turn his vehicle into a hazard to road safety?
The answer is very simple: if you have the V-16 light signal, you must place it on top of your vehicle. You don’t have to get out of the car to do it. You simply have to extend your arm through the window until the beacon is attached to the metal surface by means of a magnet at its base. When it comes into contact with metal, it activates automatically.
This is one of the main advantages provided by the beacon, which we must always have on hand to be able to install it without leaving the seat. It is a mistake to take it in a place to which we do not have access without moving (the trunk, for example), because this implies getting out of the car and this is precisely the reason why the DGT has eliminated the use of triangles on expressways. .
In a message broadcast through their social networks, the Civil Guard indicates how to act in the event of having to stop the vehicle on a highway or dual carriageway. In the case of having the V-16 light beacon, the agent says, as you can see below, that we must place it on top of the car without leaving it.
Likewise, it also recommends that if there is a safe place nearby, put on your reflective vest and get out of the car to situate yourself on the other side of the protective fence. Once you are safe, you must call the assistance service to come to your rescue, and if the vehicle has been parked in a dangerous place, you must call 062 so that the Civil Guard agents come to the place.
Despite the fact that it is not mandatory to have the V-16 beacon while the instruction that exempts drivers from placing the warning triangles in the event of a stop on a motorway or highway is in force, it is advisable to carry it in the vehicle. It is a signal that other drivers can perceive at a distance of up to a kilometer, which is very effective in warning of danger in the dark or in episodes of heavy fog.
On the rest of the roads, the triangles are still mandatory to signal an emergency, although they can be replaced by the V-16 light, which will be mandatory from 2026. In any case, it must be remembered that on two-way roads it is necessary to place a triangle in front of the car at 50 meters and another behind at the same distance, in such a way that other users see the triangles at a minimum distance of 100 meters.
On one-way roads, it is enough to place one at the rear at a minimum distance of 50 meters. If visibility is not good because there is a change in elevation or a curve, we must place the triangle at the appropriate distance so that it can be noticed by other drivers.
