Overview
- Passenger cars, buses, mixed-use vehicles, goods carriers and non-special vehicle combinations must carry a certified V16, while motorcycles and special vehicles are exempt.
- Approved units must emit 360° amber light visible up to one kilometre for at least 30 minutes, include a battery with 18 months’ life and provide anonymous connectivity guaranteed for 12 years.
- Adoption remains low according to new studies, with about 65% of drivers unaware of the rule and roughly 8% already using a certified connected beacon, prompting warnings to verify DGT approval.
- Prices typically range from about €45 to €55 versus earlier non-connected lights near €20, and telecom operators are offering bundled options as consumer groups caution about counterfeit or non-homologated devices.
- Reports differ on penalties for noncompliance, citing €80 or up to €200, while traffic guards and some experts question visibility in curves or poor weather even as DGT 3.0 already ingests around 8,000 daily tow-truck alerts.