V16 Emergency Light
V16 emergency beacon is a newly designed GPS tracker per Spain Market. Per Spain’s Diectorate-General for Traffic (DGT), all vehicles on Spain Road must be equipped with a V16 GPS emergency beacon. Spain’s vehicle fleet is estimated to be nearly 34 million at the year of 2025. It is a huge market for V16 warning beacon lights.
What are V16 emergency beacons?
V16 is the official name given in Spain to warner beacon lights. The V16 emergency beacon is a combination of car emergency light and GPS tracking technology. The warning beacon lights can emit a 360-dgree flashing light, orange or yellow. The GPS tracker inside can send out the current GPS location data to the DGT data center-DGT 3.0 cloud.
Why are the V16 beacons introduced?
The V16 beacon is used in the event of road accidents or vehicle breakdown, on which the warning triangle is used normally. However, it would be dangerous to exit the vehicle, walk through other running vehicles, and place the hazard triangle at a safe distance on motorways and high-speed roads, especially at bad weather days.
How to use the V16 emergency light?
In the event of an emergency, the driver can turn on the V16 light, press SOS button, take the window down, and put it on the roof of their vehicle. The 360º flashing light can be viewed from 1Km away and warn other drivers of an accident or incident. The press of SOS button shall send immediate alert message to DGT 3.0 platform for help. The strong magnet makes it easy to attach to vehicle body. The build in rechargeable battery can last at least 30 minutes.
V16 GPS beacon Specifications
| Product | Model | V16 emergency beacon |
| Size | 85*75*50.7 mm | |
| Weight | About 180g | |
| Warning Light | White light luminous intensity | Brightness 50CD |
| Yellow light intensity | Brightness 50CD
Flash Frequency: 0.8 ~2hz |
|
| Light coverage | Horizontal 360-degree field of view, vertical ±8-degree field of view | |
| Shell | Mold | Bottom shell / B Shell |
| Color | Orange | |
| Material | PC+ABS/PMMA | |
| Technology | Material/ Polishing | |
| Battery | Specification | 3.7V/1800mAh |
| Shutdown standby | >18 months | |
| Duration of use | About 40 to 60 minutes | |
| GPS Position | GPS | Support dual mode, support GPS, BeiDou, GLONASS, QZSS satellite navigation system |
| GPS Positioning Accuracy | <5 meters, positioning frequency 1 Hz | |
| Communication Module | Frequency Band | B1/B3/B5/B8/B20/B28 (LTE-FDD) |
| SIM type | Nano SIM or Esim | |
| Data types | 4G LPWA | |
| Data rate Max. | Single-Tone: DL: 25.5 kbps UL: 16.7 kbps Multi-Tone: DL: 25.5 kbps UL: 62.5 kbps | |
| Data reporting frequency | 50-150 seconds, default 100 seconds | |
| Interface | Button | Power button + SOS button |
| Charging | Type C | |
| Install | Magnet | Magnetic installation, grade N50 |
| Stability | >180 Pa dynamic pressure | |
| Protection Level | IP65 | |
| Operation temperature | -10~50℃ |
V16 warning light features:
- 18650 Li-ion + battery: last for at least 18 months on standby
- 1.5KM 360-degree flashing yellow light for high visibility
- integrated GPS sends the vehicle’s exact coordinates to official traffic platforms
- Easy Installation: strong magnet for easy placement on the car roof
- automatically upload location data every 100 seconds
- SOS panic button
- Location methods: dual mode, support GPS+beidou+GLONASS+ QZSS satellite navigation system
Comparison of Warning Lights
| Traditional warning triangle and light | Current V16 GPS beacon |
| You have to leave your car and walk in traffic( dangerous) | You stay safe inside your car. |
| Your location is only visible to nearby drivers( passive) | Your exact GPS location is sent to authorities(active) |
| Help might be delayed due to vague location description | Help is dispatched to your precise coordinates quickly |
| It only warns drivers who are already very close to you | It can warn another connected drivers miles in advance |
| Will be illegal in Spain from 2026 | It is the new legal standard for safety |
History of Hazardous Warning Device in Spain
Galician inventor Jorge Torre created the V16 beacon to reduce the high number of deaths and injuries caused by vehicle breakdowns and accidents.
| 2015 | Torre developed the first prototype and, together with entrepreneur Jorge Costas, launched the pioneering V16 brand Help Flash. |
| 2018 | After the product launched, Spanish authorities recognized the V16 lights as the most efficient solution for preventing accidents involving stopped vehicles. This prompted the DGT to approve them and include the devices in the Vehicle Regulation Reform under Ministerial Order PCI/810/2018. [6][7] |
| 2021 | A royal decree authorized the replacement of warning triangles with V16 lights, which will connect directly to the DGT 3.0 cloud in 2026 |
| 2025 | Both traditional warning triangles and V-16 beacons can be used |
| 2026 | The use of the V16 beacon will become mandatory, and warning triangles will no longer be accepted as a legal alternative |
Advantage of the V16 GPS beacon
- Increased safety: Drivers do not need to exit the vehicle to signal an emergency.
- Better visibility: The flashing light is detectable from long distances, regardless of weather conditions.
- Automatic location sharing: Approved models send the vehicle’s location to DGT 3.0, facilitating assistance and reducing risks.
- Ease of use: The device attaches to the roof in a single step and activates immediately.