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2h ago

Spain’s V-16 Beacon Mandate Faces Backlash and Theft Spike

Traffic officials say the beacon reduces danger by keeping drivers in their cars.

Uno de los vehículos asaltados por el presunto autor de los robos en garajes comunitarios de León capital, que fracturaba las ventanillas mediante apalancamiento.
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Overview

  • The V-16 luminous beacon has been the only legal roadside signaling device in Spain since January 1, replacing warning triangles.
  • The DGT has told security forces to allow a period of “reasonable flexibility” before issuing sanctions to drivers who do not yet have the device.
  • Police report a rise in thefts of V-16 units from parked cars and arrested a suspect in León linked to more than 30 break-ins targeting the beacons.
  • Officers warn the devices, typically priced between €30 and €50, are being resold on the black market and advise drivers not to leave valuables in view and to record product reference numbers.
  • A widely shared video by a Guardia Civil officer criticized the beacon’s visibility, adding to public complaints over cost and confusion about obsolete models, even as the DGT defends the rule on safety grounds.