Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) is preparing a directive requiring Guardia Civil de Tráfico officers to respond to every activation of the connected V-16 emergency beacon. Expected to be signed imminently, the measure would formalize a practice that has become routine as daily alerts continue to climb. DGT director Pere Navarro said the aim is to ensure drivers using the beacon receive prompt assistance from the nearest available patrols, reflecting the agency’s focus on support over sanctions.
The response protocol sits alongside the beacon’s statutory role: from 1 January 2026, an officially certified connected V-16 became the only legally recognized device for signalling an immobilized vehicle on Spanish roads, replacing the warning triangle. The DGT system is designed to receive activation and deactivation data, along with the device’s location. Compliance requires a connected, homologated model, not simply any lamp that flashes yellow. Failing to carry or use the required beacon can incur an €80 fine. Failing to signal an immobilized vehicle can constitute a more serious infringement, punishable by a fine of up to €200.
The scale of the challenge is impressive. The Guardia Civil’s traffic division officially has around 9,100 officers, but staffing constraints reduce the number available for patrol at any given time to an estimated 6,000. Meanwhile, V-16 beacon activations have surged: in June alone, more than 2,500 alerts were registered daily, for a monthly total of 75,000. By comparison, October 2025 saw just 6,300 activations, before the device became mandatory. Since January, monthly figures have consistently exceeded 63,000, pointing to growing reliance on the technology.
The connected beacon combines a 360-degree flashing yellow light, described as visible from up to one kilometre in favourable conditions, with positioning and cellular connectivity. Technical specifications reported for compliant models include at least 30 minutes of operation. They also require location updates every 100 seconds while active, and a connectivity service lasting at least 12 years. The beacon sends information about the stopped vehicle to the DGT, but does not itself call emergency services or provide two-way communication with rescuers. Drivers must still call 112 if anyone is injured or there is an immediate risk of a collision.
The V-16 beacon is required by law in all vehicles. DGT estimates that 16 million units have been sold, out of a total vehicle fleet of 28 million. Despite widespread adoption, Netum Solutions, the company behind the original invention and founded by two former Guardia Civil officers, has entered insolvency proceedings, a sign of the sector’s commercial volatility. The Instituto de Crédito Oficial, responding to scrutiny of state-backed financing to the company, said it had detected no breach in its operations. Citing banking secrecy, it declined to disclose whether loans backed by public guarantees had been repaid.
Navarro has dismissed criticism of the measure as unproductive, describing the debate as “sterile.” He also noted that Germany and Belgium, along with Portugal, have shown interest in adopting the Spanish-designed beacon. In Brussels, it is even referred to as “la baliza española.” DGT says it was aware of about 8,600 monthly road incidents before the V-16’s introduction; that figure has since risen to 69,000, reflecting increased reporting and the device’s impact on emergency response protocols.
The connected V-16 forms part of DGT 3.0, the agency’s digital road-safety environment, which receives geolocated information from connected roadside-warning devices. The system is also being extended to “smart cones” used by road operators and Guardia Civil traffic officers. This allows work-zone hazards and other roadside events to be represented digitally for traffic management. A patrol-response requirement adds an operational layer to that information network: the beacon transmits an alert and location, while officers provide the on-scene response.
The directive comes as the Spanish government faces scrutiny over its handling of public services and resource allocation. Recent decisions, including approval of a €112.8 million rescue package for Tubos Reunidos following political lobbying, have sparked debate about priorities and the influence of internal contacts. Details of that case are available in this analysis of how state aid decisions are shaped by political pressure.
The V-16 is a small, portable device placed on a vehicle’s roof in the event of a breakdown or accident. Its connected version sends the vehicle’s location and activation status to the DGT, helping alert other road users and support traffic management, but it cannot guarantee that approaching drivers will see or avoid a stopped vehicle. Road layout and visibility matter, as do traffic speed and driver reaction, when it comes to preventing secondary collisions. Formalizing police responses is intended to ensure the system delivers prompt assistance, but the strain on available officers raises questions about sustainability as usage rises. The coming months will test whether current resources can keep pace with the growing number of alerts and whether further adjustments will be needed to maintain effective roadside support across Spain.
