[g4ugm]

Folks,
I looked at the section on the RAC web site on driving in Spain and it says I need a triangle, but the Spanish Transport Site (dgt.es) says I need a beacon. The Spanish site also says not to use triangles on motorways, so should I get a beacon even if not needed.

[Lily]

Hi there @g4ugm, you will need an emergency beacon (V-16) in Spain from January 1, 2026, as it will replace the traditional warning triangle. For now, during this transition period, you can use either the beacon or the triangle!

Hope this helps and welcome to the RAC Community. ☺

[g4ugm]

@Lily From what I have read, non-Spanish cars don't require one, as under the same Vienna conventions that enable driving on an IDP mean you can drive a UK car without one.

https://herodriver.es/en/pages/pregu...normativa-2026

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by g4ugm

The Spanish site also says not to use triangles on motorways, so should I get a beacon even if not needed.

Don't even think about using a triangle on a motorway.

I had three colleagues killed while working on the hard shoulder. Each time, a driver failed to spot a large recovery vehicle with hi-vis markings, and flashing beacons, in good visibility.

If you think a poxy plastic triangle will save your life, then dream on. The only sensible advice if you break down on the motorway is to get out, over the barrier or up the embankment, ASAP.

[Nick]

@Beelzebub definitely good advice for your own safety but I am a believer in trying to warn other drivers that there's a potential hazard coming up - maybe a triangle isn't the best way to do that these days, but something right? You can sometimes get those tyre pumps that have some kind of warning light built into them I think...

[Lily]

@g4ugm I found this information, that aligns to what the other members of the forum have mentioned:

"The Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) has confirmed the change as part of a nationwide push to make roads safer and smarter. The move aims to reduce accidents caused when drivers step out of their vehicles to place warning triangles — a risk that has led to far too many tragic deaths on Spanish roads... For foreign vehicles entering Spain, traditional warning triangles will still be accepted until a common EU standard is introduced, but the DGT is encouraging all drivers to adopt the new system as soon as possible for safety reasons."

In conclusion: like I mentioned earlier, you can drive legally in Spain with just the triangle, but for safety reasons you are being encouraged not to and get a beacon. You can read more about it here.

Thanks @Beelzebub and @Nick for you sensible advice!

[Santa]

I had a look at some, and my first thought was that a flashing light magnetically stuck to the back of the car wouldn't be much use.

Amazon has these (£25 seems a lot?), but you get three (batteries not included), which you could put some distance behind the car—maybe in conjunction with the triangle.

Kitgo 3 Pack LED Road Flares Flashlight Emergency Safety Warning Light Kit for Car Truck RV Vehicles Boat with Magnetic Base & Hook : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

[Lily]

@Santa good recommendation!
@g4ugm when are you planning to visit Spain?

[g4ugm]

Originally Posted by Lily

@Santa good recommendation!

Perhaps, but the idea of the Spanish V16 is that when in Spain they report your position back to the DGT (Transport Ministry) so they can take action, and that you don't get out to place. Only official V16 beacons are legal in Spain.

@g4ugm when are you planning to visit Spain?

Oddly I have just booked a trip, over the year end, but doing fly and hire so driving a Spanish car. I just hope I don't have to go back to the hire company on the 1st Jan to pick up a beacon!

[Drivingforfun]

In response to @Beelzebub

I don’t know the law about placing the triangle but my instinct reading your post would be to put the triangle (well before the breakdown) in a very prominent place - to the point of being in the way. It’s sacrificial at the end of the day so leave it poking into the road a bit and if a dozy driver runs it over but it makes them take their eyes off their phone and pay attention then it’s done it job

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by Drivingforfun

In response to @Beelzebub

I don’t know the law about placing the triangle but my instinct reading your post would be to put the triangle (well before the breakdown) in a very prominent place - to the point of being in the way. It’s sacrificial at the end of the day so leave it poking into the road a bit and if a dozy driver runs it over but it makes them take their eyes off their phone and pay attention then it’s done it job

Placing the triangle in a running lane would be an imprisonable offence (wilful obstruction) under section 137 of the Highways Act 1980.

However, my point was not about how or where you place a triangle, but simply that you are putting your life in real danger by remaining on the hard shoulder any longer than necessary.

[Rolebama]

To pick up on Beelzebub's point. I spent around 10 years working motorways from 1987 to 1997 using a recovery vehicle for the first 2yrs. In full daylight it was driven into around a dozen times. It was later badly damaged when a sleeping lorry driver had a collision with it. (The driver admitted to falling asleep). In 1990 I transferred to vans. During those years I have personal knowledge of 5 incidents where people were killed on the hard shoulder having broken down. One of them was a Police Officer, with blue lights and hazards on. They were mostly sitting in the car. Strangely, to me, none of my vans were ever hit. So I have to say that no amount of lights or triangles will be of any use on the day, but getting out and away from the car could save your life.

[Rolebama]

As an aside to this. When the M25 first opened, it became known as having a higher rate of deaths and serious injury than all other motorways combined. Nowadays it is considered one of the safest roads in the country because a bean-counter somewhere decided that there are less incidents per vehicle mile travelled on it.
It was inversigation inside the AA which produced the first set of figures and followed by the second when they published from an outside source.