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Emergency triangles abolished on motorways in Spain
The traditional warning beacons will still be mandatory on conventional roads in Spain for the time being
From Saturday July 1, 2023 motorists in Spain no longer have to place emergency triangles in front of or behind their vehicles if they happen to break down or have an accident on dual carriageways or motorways. These beacons, used to alert other traffic that a car has stopped unexpectedly, will still be mandatory on all other conventional roads though, according to the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT).
The risky manoeuvre of getting out of the car in order to place the triangle in the road has led to a “high number” of accidents and even fatalities over the years, the DGT explained, since exiting the vehicle on any high-speed road “significantly increases” the risk of being run over.
The threat will, of course, be completely eliminated in January 2026 when warning triangles are replaced by V16 roof beacons, which can be set in place through the window. In fact, these luminous devices are already on sale and drivers are free to use them instead of triangles.
The requirement for triangles on motorways and dual carriageways has already been scrapped in several other countries, including the UK, “for seriously compromising the safety of people having to walk on the road.”
In 2022, a total of 42 people were run over when they stepped out of their vehicles on high-capacity roads.
“Something had to be done. Getting out and putting the triangle at 50 metres is a risk, especially on high-speed roads, where there is a lot of traffic,” General Director of Traffic, Pere Navarro, concluded.
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Image: DGT
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