A new rule to know, especially if you are used to taking Spanish roads. From January 1, 2026, it will be mandatory to have an orange rotating light in your vehicle in Spain. The ambition of this new system is to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries by 50% as part of the “road safety 2030” strategy, specifies a press release.
The Spanish General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) specifies that the small rotating beacon emitting a yellow or orange light will be compulsory on board all local or foreign vehicles circulating on Spanish territory, in place of the emergency warning triangle.
Its light signal is more visible, up to a kilometer away, even in fog. It is also capable of emitting high intensity light at 360° intermittently and continuously for at least 30 minutes. A real asset for warning other drivers of danger on the road.
The V-16 type device, the cost of which is estimated between 40 and 50 euros, can also send the position of the vehicle to the DGT and thus alert the emergency services as quickly as possible in the event of an accident. In the event of immobilization, the object is placed on the roof or on a door of the vehicle. The rest of the time, it should be left in the glove box of the car. Drivers who are not able to present it in 2026 will face a fine ranging from 80 to 200 euros.
-In France, the warning triangle remains in force. The reflective object must be placed 30 m behind a vehicle to alert other road users of a danger and limit the risk of a secondary accident. It is obligatory unless the driver considers that his life could be put in danger by positioning it.
“Currently, in the event of an accident or breakdown on a motorway or expressway, it is necessary to walk on the roadway to position the warning triangle 50 m away (the recommended distance in Spain) behind the broken down vehicle. Walk 100 m (round trip to and from the vehicle) on foot on the road implies an unnecessary risk,” explains the DGT to justify its choice.
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