The mandatory use of the V16 beacon is no longer open to interpretation. Just six days after the regulation came into effect, a driver in the province of Valencia was fined for not having the required device.
This confirms that the control has been effective since January 1, 2026, and that the application of the regulations does not include automatic moratoriums.
The first penalty recorded on the AP-7
According to various reports published in national media, on January 6th a driver was fined at kilometer 561 of the AP-7 for not having the mandatory V16 beacon connected.
The penalty imposed amounts to:
- 80 Euros (40 euros for early payment).
- Without point deduction of the driving license.
- To 200 Euros if the device is not approved or is used incorrectly.
The infringement is based on article 10.3 of the Traffic Law, which establishes the obligation to use the regulatory signaling elements in case of immobilization of the vehicle on an interurban road.
From 2026: only the connected V16 beacon is valid
The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has established that, from January 1, 2026:
- The Emergency triangles are no longer valid as a pre-signaling system.
- The only authorized device is the V16 beacon connected with geolocation.
- The team must be approved and certified in accordance with current regulations.
- It must transmit the vehicle's location to the DGT 3.0 platform via an integrated communications network.
The main objective is to reduce accidents that occur when drivers leave their vehicles to place triangles on the road.
Without a formal transition period
Although there was talk in political circles of a possible flexible adaptation phase, no official instruction was issued to halt the application of the sanctions regime. Consequently, the Security Forces are acting in accordance with current regulations.
The sanction registered in Valencia confirms that the obligation is fully enforceable and that the verification of the device can be carried out in routine checks or interventions due to breakdown.
Hero Driver LED V16 connected: guaranteed compliance until 2040
In this regulatory and sanctioning context, Ryme Automotive offers the Hero Driver LED V16 connecteda device:
- Certified and approved in accordance with V16 regulations.
- With Vodafone NB-IoT connectivity included until 2040, without additional fees.
- Tested in an accredited laboratory under UNE EN ISO 17025 standard.
- With 360° visibility, regulatory intensity and IP54 protection rating.
- Prepared to fully comply with the mandatory requirement from January 1, 2026.
Activation is performed using an SOS button once positioned on the vehicle, automatically transmitting the geolocation to the DGT 3.0 platform.
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