Just Bought A V16 Beacon? Why You Might Need To Upgrade Again

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A driver installs nan caller V16 emergency beacon connected his conveyance adjacent a Spanish road—mandatory from 2026 nether DGT information rules. Credit : jordi.magrans, Shutterstock

For months now, Spanish motorists person had nan V16 beacon deadline hanging complete their heads. From January 2026, each driver must person this small gadget successful their glovebox to enactment ineligible connected Spanish roads.

The aim? To switch those risky reflective triangles we’ve each fumbled pinch connected nan difficult shoulder. But if you already bought a V16, don’t get excessively comfortable – Spain’s postulation authorities, nan DGT, person conscionable fixed nan greenish ray to a marque new, much-improved beacon.

The latest model, nan Help Flash IoT+, addresses each nan aged criticisms. So if you jumped nan weapon and grabbed an early version, you mightiness soon beryllium wishing you’d waited. In a uncommon twist, procrastinators are nan winners this time!

What’s New pinch nan Help Flash IoT+?

Let’s commencement pinch visibility. One of nan biggest complaints pinch earlier V16 beacons was their disappointing brightness. Promises of “360-degree visibility” were each good and good, but successful afloat Spanish sunshine? Not truthful much. The caller Help Flash IoT+ packs a punch, clocking complete 200 candelas – that’s a whopping 186 per cent brighter than its predecessor.  It’s intelligibly visible astatine much than a kilometre, time aliases night, rainfall aliases shine, conscionable arsenic nan rule demands.

But that’s not all. Early models had a inclination to unsighted you erstwhile placed connected nan car tile – not perfect erstwhile you’re already dealing pinch a breakdown. The caller type now softens its beam successful nan first seconds, making life little stressful erstwhile each 2nd counts.

Connectivity is besides key. As per nan law, your beacon must nexus up pinch nan DGT 3.0 platform. Once activated, it automatically shares your nonstop location pinch postulation authorities and sends a virtual informing to different drivers done their sat navs and road signs. A genuinely 21st-century update for Spanish roads.

But here’s nan catch: only connected V16s will beryllium ineligible aft 1 January 2026. If you picked up a cheaper, non-connected model, you’ll person to switch it – aliases consequence a hefty fine. You’ve fundamentally paid for nothing.

The Spanish postulation constabulary measurement in

Some of nan toughest critics of nan original V16 rollout person been nan Guardia Civil’s postulation division. Their main gripe? Older beacons conscionable weren’t agleam capable to beryllium seen from a safe region successful afloat daylight, aliases successful tricky weather. The outgoing reflective triangles whitethorn person been a pain, but they offered greater visibility – particularly connected bends and hills.

There are besides worries astir artillery life. The rules opportunity your V16 needs to past astatine slightest 30 minutes, but officers constituent retired that breakdowns tin return overmuch longer to resolve. Happily, nan caller Help Flash IoT+ claims to person solved this, offering amended artillery capacity and reliability.

So, should you upgrade now aliases wait?

If you already shelled retired for a V16 beacon, don’t panic – if it’s connected and DGT-approved, it’ll still beryllium legal. But for anyone still shopping, nan proposal is clear: clasp retired for nan Help Flash IoT+ aliases different next-generation model. With brighter lights, smarter connectivity, and little hassle successful an emergency, nan caller modular is worthy nan wait.

The civilized of nan story? For once, leaving it to nan past infinitesimal mightiness conscionable beryllium nan smartest move – astatine slightest erstwhile it comes to Spain’s ever-evolving roadworthy information gadgets.

Make judge your emergency kit is up to date, and don’t get caught retired by nan caller rules. For much motoring updates, enactment pinch Euro Weekly News – your go-to root for everything Spain’s drivers request to know.

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