Overview
- The DGT confirms the V‑16 is compulsory from 1 January with no grace period and says not carrying it can lead to an €80 fine.
- Drivers may still place triangles if they carry a V‑16, though Tráfico cautions against exiting the vehicle to do so due to crash risks.
- A public site, mapabalizasv16.es, displays active beacons in real time using DGT data; 1,873 activations were recorded on day one, with alerts fed to road panels and apps like Google Maps and Waze.
- Cybersecurity specialist Javier Sanz warns the open feed could help criminals target stranded motorists or run tow‑truck scams.
- Early users question daytime, curve and fog visibility, and last‑minute decertification of four connected models has fueled consumer confusion despite prior purchases remaining valid.