Until recently, every time we had a breakdown or unforeseen event on the road, we had to get out of the car to place the warning triangles at a safe distance from where we were standing. In this way, the rest of the vehicles could alert that another car had had a breakdown or had to stop, but since this year those triangles have been replaced by the V16 emergency light of which we explain now since when is it mandatory to use it, which one it is its price and how it is used.
V16 emergency light: When is it mandatory, price and how to use it?
Until last January when we had a breakdown on the road or for any other reason, we had to stop our vehicle, it was mandatory to get off to place the emergency triangles to alert the rest of the vehicles, in addition to putting on a reflective vest , but since the beginning of This year the DGT changed these regulations due to the risk of accident that in itself entails getting out of the car if we are on a section or road considered dangerous or if, for example, we are in low light conditions.
In this way, and without the need to wait for the police to place the appropriate signaling to warn that our car is stopped on the road, since January 2021 we have been obliged to place what is known as Light V16 , an automatic emergency light that works by means of LEDs and that is used in the simplest way of all: by placing it on the roof of the car.
Thus, in case of having to stop, we only have to lower the window, remove the arm and place the V16 light in a visible and elevated part of our vehicle, something similar to how the lights are installed and how they work in emergency vehicles or in those of the police.
The light that we can turn on inside the car before gluing it or that can also be put into operation once we glue it (it will depend on the model we buy) emits a flashing orange light, indicating the position on the road with total safety since it is visible a kilometer away.
Until when can we use the triangles?
As we have already said, the use of the V16 Light is mandatory since January 2021 although the DGT allowed drivers to have the first quarter of the year to buy it and nothing happened if we did not have it or if in fact we continued using the triangles of emergency. Moreover, it was on July 1 when the rule came into force, so it was from this date that drivers must carry and use the emergency light when they have any incident on the road.
However, if you do not have it or do not take it, nothing happens yet, since the DGT has not completely forbidden us to continue using the emergency triangles . In fact, we will be able to continue using them until 2026 , the year in which the V16 light will already be completely mandatory, although it is expected that until then these elements will gradually disappear from the road. According to the plans of the DGT, from 2023 the vast majority of drivers will already use the V16 light.
Where to buy and how much does the V16 light cost?
The V16 light can already be purchased in many specialized stores, mechanical workshops and even in supermarkets or Amazon , but we have to take into account when buying it that it is necessary that it be homologated by the DGT .
As for the price of the V16 light, it will depend a lot on the model purchased and the brand, although the cheapest ones cost between 12 and 15 euros, while the models that are sold the most are usually around 20 euros and the most expensive they can cost between 35 and 39 euros.
