The V-27 signal warns you where no one warns. Or, at least, where the DGT’s V-16 beacon does not warn

Much has been said about the V-16 beacon. We have told of Where does this invention come from that the DGT will make mandatory? in just a few days and, also, who is doing business with them. It has even been questioned whether or not we are buying really legal beacons.

But of all the controversies, the one that has gained the most force due to a purely practical issue has been the issue of its visibility and effectiveness. And it is that the experts themselves have warned that the light is seen little and may be insufficient. From Xataka We have shown our own doubts about whether or not it is really advisable to get rid of triangles.

These doubts are generated, in part, by the visibility of the beacon in complicated environments such as a secondary road, especially if we are next to a change in gradient or a secondary road. In this case, we still think that triangles are the best tool but the DGT also includes help that, of course, will not always work.

We are talking about the V-27 signal.

A notice in exchange for the triangles

As we have told you before, When we activate a connected V-16 beacon we have 100 seconds until our position is first submitted. This data is sent through IoT networksknown as “the Internet of Things.” Our position is sent to the DGT 3.0 platform so that they can locate the incident.

Once the DGT receives the notice that something is happeningactivates the warning on nearby light panels that an accident or breakdown has occurred in the vicinity so that vehicles drive with caution.

This, obviously, does not make much sense on a secondary road where these panels do not exist. But the DGT warns that, in exchange, we will have the signal V-27.

This sign is in the shape of a triangle with an exclamation mark inside and three stripes on its right side to represent its “connectivity.” Once DGT 3.0 detects the incident, in addition to sending the warnings to the light panel, it will also activate this V-27 signal that will light on the instrument panel of our car to warn us that we are facing a risky situation. Likewise, the body can activate it for any other reason it considers dangerous, not just by activating a beacon. V-16.

Of course, as noted in the Royal Decree that regulates its arrival“this signal, of a voluntary nature, will only be displayed in those vehicles that are connected by telematic means, directly or through a service provider, with the National Access Point for Traffic and Mobility Information“. Therefore, it will not be available in all cars.

Is the V-27 signal useful? Yes, because the driver will receive more information about what is happening around him. It must be taken into account that on a highway it is easier to visualize a problem and it is easy to pass by one of the illuminated panels that alert us of any type of emergency.

However, on a secondary road it can be very useful since it will be activated before we reach the scene of the accident, right on a type of road where visibility is reduced and where the focus has been placed on limiting the V-16 beacon.

We must not lose sight, however, that in order to receive this notice we must have a connected car and, in addition, the car or its provider must be registered with the National Access Point for Traffic and Mobility Information. If not, it will be of no use.

Photo | Andri Klopfenstein and DGT

In Xataka | The V16 wanted to replace the triangle and reduce risks. They have ended up proving that they can also create them