DGTs

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

by

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

After months without flying, the DGT’s Pegasus return to the skies. And they are already hunting offenders

by

Since entering service in 2013, Pegasus helicopters have become one of the systems with which the DGT monitors the roads. Apart from controlling the speed of traffic, the cameras are so powerful that they allow them to distinguish whether we look at the cell phone while driving either we don’t wear the seatbelt. Due to maintenance and contract issues, the nine Pegasus they stopped flying for almost two months. 51 million euros later, they are back on the roads. AND they are already catching to drivers who circulate as if the highways were circuits. The Pegasus of the DGT return From September 1 to October 25, the nine Pegasus of the General Directorate of Traffic were grounded. They did so due to the expiration of the maintenance contract they had up to that point and, as no company interested in occupying that position for the maintenance of the helicopters had presented itself, the deadlines forced them to leave the service. Failing that, drones with similar capabilities were responsible for monitoring from the air, but a few weeks ago an agreement was reached to renew this maintenance, as well as an improvement in some components, such as recording systems. With everything in order, the DGT has as aim double annual flight hoursgoing from the 2,750 hours registered so far to 5,500. It is already bearing fruit. The video on these lines was caught on November 1, one of the key dates in mobility in Spain, and we can see how a driver without a seat belt reaches a peak of 217 kilometers per hour on a Malaga highway. The ‘prize’ is a 600 euro fine and six license points for going at that speed, as well as another 200 euros for going without a seat belt. He hasn’t been the only one caught doing 200 km/h recently. In total, The investment will be 51 million euros until 2028 for this road control from the air, but it could reach up to 80 million if the contract is extended for another 22 months. And you may be wondering how they work: They are helicopters Eurocopter AS-355 Ecureuil 2 and AS 350 armed with the MX-15 radar that detects speeding at 300 meters high and up to a kilometer away. They have GPS positioning to have exact coordinates. Using a laser rangefinder, they measure distances and record the position of the vehicle every three seconds. They also calculate the average speed of the vehicle. In the case of a violation, recording begins and the fine is sent electronically. Pegasus has shortcomings, such as it cannot record the license plate well in adverse conditions or at night, but The Mossos d’Esquadra have another lookout in the skies: Falcó. It operates in a similar way to the Pegasus, but with the advantage that it allows the license plate to be read both at night and in the rain. Precisely, one of the problems of the Pegasus is that some of its technologies have become outdated, but with the new maintenance and technological update plans, they want to catch up. But hey, in the end, the easiest way to avoid being hunted by these helicopters is to pay attention to both the signs and common sense. Images | DGT Magazine In Xataka | Very effective and practically undetectable: how the DGT’s “invisible radars” work

is the DGT’s response to the challenge of the new Bus-VAO lane

by

First quarter of 2026. That is the date on which the new Bus-HOV lane on the A-2 highway should come into operation at its entrance and exit to Madrid. An alternative to prioritize the use of public transport and promote the use of shared vehicles that comes with an important novelty: the road is not segregated. And that represents a challenge for the DGT and new ways for drivers to behave. A band-aid for bleeding. The entrance to Madrid on the A-2 highway is clogged every morning. And, therefore, its output is just as congested in the afternoons. After years of searching for solutions and promising a Bus-HOV lane that seemed to never arrive, the DGT has confirmed that we will see it in the first quarter of 2026. According to their calculations, the new lane will allow around 15,000 people to access or leave the capital in a more staggered manner, saving an average of 25% of time on their journey and adding a total of 500,000 fewer hours of traffic jams. Users of public transport, passenger cars with more than one person inside and motorcyclists will benefit. When its implementation is completely completed, it will have a route of 19.2 kilometers between Madrid and Alcalá de Henares. Until then, the first phase will be between Madrid and Torrejón de Ardoz. A new HOV Bus. The great novelty of this new Bus-VAO is that It is a lane without physical separation and will be activated punctually, both daily during the busiest hours of entry and exit from the capital and during special operations or during the weekend. That is, the driver will find the three usual lanes but when he starts moving, the left one becomes Bus-HOV. To signal whether the lane is active or not, beacons on the ground and gantries have been installed along the road. When the beacons are off, the Bus-HOV lane is inactive and it is when they turn green or yellow that the system becomes active and only allows access to motorcycles, buses, cars with more than one person inside or emergency vehicles. And I come in whenever I want? This lane, however, will have to be accessed through delimited areas. This is what the DGT calls “embarkation and disembarkation” zones. If we skip the light line created by the beacons we will be breaking the regulations and the driver may be penalized as if they skipped a continuous line. To monitor it, the DGT will have cameras to do this work. Therefore, we will not be able to leave and enter the lane as desired and it is important where these areas are located. The DGT has confirmed that they will be at the following points when the Bus-VAO starts operating: In the direction of entering Madrid, the first boarding will be located at Torrejón de Ardoz (pk 18+600), the second in Rejas (pk 13+600) and the last in Canillejas (pk 7+700) to disembark all at Avenida de América. In the outbound direction, boardings are at Arturo Soria/Josefa Valcárcel (pk 5+850) and the Eisenhower junction (pk 11+400) and disembarkations at Canillejas (pk 9+100) and Rejas (pk 15+200) where this lane ends. Occupancy radars? In its communications, the DGT says that “the lane will be monitored with license plate reading and occupancy detection equipment, so there will be sanctions for all those who travel along it alone or enter and exit through places that are not permitted.” That definition has popularized the term “occupancy radars.” We have contacted the DGT and they have confirmed that the system on this lane of the A-2 uses infrared and heat cameras to detect the passengers of a vehicle and that the system cannot be deceived with a dummy, as has sometimes happened on the A-6 highway where the other Bus-HOV lane in the capital is located. However, at the moment it is not active and they will provide more details later, when the HOV lane opens to traffic. This type of systems have been put into operation in Francewhere Bus-HOV lanes with these same characteristics are implemented. And the fine? The fine for using the Bus-HOV lane improperly is 200 euros. It is the same one that applies in case of skipping a continuous line, so if a driver enters the lane improperly (outside the boarding places) and without complying with the requirements, he or she is exposed to a penalty of up to 400 euros, adding both violations. Anyone who does not comply with the boarding areas will be fined 200 euros. a challenge. The new Bus-HOV lane is a litmus test for mobility in our country. The solution is relatively cheap since in this case 13.9 million euros have been spent, which have been assumed equally by the General Directorate of Traffic (Ministry of the Interior), the General Directorate of Roads (Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility), the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium (Community of Madrid) and the Madrid City Council. The system avoids having to carry out works to create a new infrastructure but it also represents a challenge when it comes to managing traffic since a breakdown during rush hour will force the Bus-HOV lane to be deactivated so that this lane also absorbs the vehicles stuck on its right. Likewise, constant monitoring of the dividing line must be guaranteed for almost 20 kilometers to avoid false access. Photo | DGT In Xataka | The “made in China” business of the DGT’s V-16 beacons: homologating the same product 24 times and selling it under different brands

the made-in-China business of the DGT’s V-16 beacons

by

82 days. That is the time that has passed since the DGT approved for the first time a connected V-16 beacon on December 22, 2022 until March 14, 2023. Less than three months later from that December 22, Distribuciones Escudero Fijo SL You could now put your own connected device on the market. The Valencia-based company was the first to put a V-16 beacon connected and approved by the DGT on the market. made in china. The company specializes in the import and distribution of consumer products in our country, so it must have seen clearly that it was time to manufacture its own devices in the Asian country to reduce costs. The certificate confirming the approval and who is behind the manufacturing of the product is easily accessible. Both that of this Valencian company and that of any other approved product can be found on the DGT website. And with that list it is very easy to verify that the vast majority of connected V-16 beacons are being manufactured in China. Spanish approval, Chinese business Photo printers, a Philips car radio, activity bracelets or a Tesla Smart TV. They are all products that You can find it on the Distribuciones Escudero Fijo website. next to the connected V-16 beacon. The company, as we said, is by no means the only one that produces its beacons in China to approve them in Spain and sell them in our country. In fact, the DGT collects 29 companies with certifications to distribute its approved products in Spain. Only seven are Spanish. and the weight of products made in Spain It is reduced much more if we look at the total volume of registered beacons. Of 239 approved products, only 29 are produced in Spain, just over 10%. This company sells, under different names, up to five connected V-16 beacons, four of which have slight modifications to sell them as different products on the market. But this is almost a rarity because some Chinese brands have made it an art to sell the same licensed product under different names. The latter is the case of Limbur Technology, a company that manufactures these connected V-16 beacons in China and puts them on the Spanish market, highlighting the same product with different names. At this moment it has 99 active approvals despite having only seven different models on the market. The process is always the same. The Ningbo Chakesi Electronic company, based in Zhejiang (China), produces the connected V-16 beacons that are then sold under brands with names as diverse as Soslight, Orflect either Don Happy. The approvals are carried out in the Idiada laboratories (there are only two laboratories with permission to carry out these approvals) and in some cases the same device is approved repeatedly (up to 25 identical devices on June 30, 2025) to be sold under different names. Manufacturers have little room to play with approvals and put different products on the market. In some cases, for example, the new approval only corresponds to the addition of a new suction cup to facilitate installation or that the product is now brighter. The pattern repeats with other distributors. Ledel Solutions has 30 active approvals. Of them, up to 24 different brands sell the same product. Four of them repeat with a variation of the connected V16 beacon and only one of them sells an approved product such as EmergLight X, which has the same name as the company that puts it on the market. The manufacturing, as with any other product approved by Ledel Solutions, comes from China. And the connected V-16 beacon has all the conditions to be a product that China can easily supply. We are talking about a very low-cost technological product. A casing, some resistance to dust and water, active battery for 30 minutes and a space for a SIM card. It is the perfect product for mass produce at very low cost. With the approvals registered by the DGT, right now there are 239 products on the market but only 70 are, really, different products. Most of the time we are talking about the same product repeated and approved repeatedly by the same distributor and then sold under different brands in different channels. Photo | DGT and Escudero Fixed Distributions In Xataka | “Dangerous situations have already occurred”: three road safety experts respond to the imposition of the DGT’s V-16 beacon

Log In

Forgot password?

Forgot password?

Enter your account data and we will send you a link to reset your password.

Your password reset link appears to be invalid or expired.

Log in

Privacy Policy

Add to Collection

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.