Just a few days ago, a listener of the program The world on RAC1 turned on the alarm lights during an interview with the deputy director of the DGTAna Blanco warned that the use of the new V-16 beacons could seriously affect the health of people with heart problems who use a pacemaker or defibrillator.

The mandatory implementation of the V-16 lighting system is shaping up to be one of the biggest blunders by the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) and the Ministry of the Interior in recent years. After accumulatingcriticism from consumer associationsIn addition to concerns from emergency personnel and other groups about the new mandatory lighting system in case of accident or breakdown, there is now a new announcement from the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) that it is withdrawing official approval from four models of connected V-16 beacons that until recently appeared on all official lists.

In the midst of this era of rampant consumerism, a relatively surprising piece of news emerges: one fraud related to the mandatory consumption of the V-16 beacon that all cars will have to have them from January onwards if they don't want to receive a fine. Facua, a consumer rights organization, has accused the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) of promoting massive fraud by the laxity Regarding the approval of this mandatory lamp, many consumers have purchased a model that is theoretically approved but, in reality, is not, meaning they will have to incur additional expenses if they want to avoid the corresponding fine. In the event of an accident, not having a light approved by the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic) will cost €200. And €80 if you are caught without one during a routine check. Regardless of what we think about this system invented by two former Civil Guard officers to supposedly prevent accidents when placing warning triangles—and which, for the moment, will only be used in Spain, as if other countries didn't have accidents caused by triangles—and about the possibility that the DGT-approved lights only serve to keep us in the dark. Whoever gets the money. Because, ultimately, poor management always ends up costing consumers extra. And if you have to file a complaint, add the extra time and patience.

1. In one month, on January 1st, 2026, we will say "have a good time" to the triangles that during twenty-six years We've used them to warn other drivers that our car has broken down and we've had to stop in an unusual place. Luckily, these drop-down triangles will have expired for most drivers before we've even had a chance to use them. But since there have been hundreds of people hit by cars while trying to plant the damn triangle fifty meters from their vehicle, and since time marches on and technology advances at an incredible pace, from now on the Spanish Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) will require us to carry a new gadget in our glove compartment. It's a light beacon that, in case of emergency, is placed on the car and flashes to signal our situation. The unique feature is that this approved V16 beacon connects directly to the DGT; this way, they'll know where you've stopped or where the incident or accident occurred. But this device doesn't put you in contact with emergency services (112) or make any kind of distress call. And this is perhaps where the inconsistencies begin.

Although Pedro Navarro, director of the DGT, He asserted a year ago that the process of redefining the classification system The environmental labeling scheme was already in place and seemed unstoppable; however, the Congress of Deputies approved the new Sustainable Mobility Law last week without including the fifteenth additional provision, which was supposed to allow the Directorate General of Traffic to establish the appropriate mechanisms to modify the criteria for assigning environmental labels to new vehicles.

There are increasingly more trucks on the AP-7 motorway, but the question is what kind of trucks they are and who is driving them. Sources within the Catalan government, consulted by ARA, indicate that in recent accidents on Catalonia's main motorway, as well as on other roads in the country, a pattern sometimes emerges that worries them: the driver at fault is a foreigner unfamiliar with local traffic and signage. Often, these accidents don't result in injuries, but they disrupt traffic and can cause delays. In the last five or six years, there have been almost 4,000 accidents on the AP-7 involving a truck, and 36% of these drivers were foreign nationals. However, these same sources have recently highlighted a trend: there is a growing presence of drivers from outside the European Union who obtained their licenses in Spain through a license exchange program. Since 2019, the number of drivers from North Africa involved in accidents has doubled (from 31 to 65). The number of drivers coming from South America has increased from 42 to 77, and those from North America from 4 to 15. This effect has been particularly noticeable since last year. The same sources warn that these are not necessarily more reckless drivers, but rather drivers who are not as accustomed to driving within the European Union. Josep Lluís Ayma, director of the Tarragona Provincial Federation of Motor Transport Companies (FEAT), agrees, stating that they have a different driving style and "sometimes cause problems." The root cause lies in license exchanges. If someone from outside the European Union wants to drive a truck in Spain and already has a license to do so in their country of origin, they must request an exchange from the DGT (Spanish Directorate General of Traffic), which has agreements with various countries. First, it's necessary to obtain a professional certificate, which is achieved after 35 hours of training for experienced drivers—those who have held a license since 2009—and 180 hours for younger drivers.

This Thursday, October 1, 2025, several changes to the driving test came into effect. The Directorate General of Traffic (DGT) has decided to remodel and reformulate the theoretical section to raise its level of rigor, adapt it to new technologies, and assess the degree of perception and reaction speed of the examinees. From now on, candidates will encounter new tests in audiovisual format—videos of real traffic situations—and the definitive incorporation of the new traffic signs Approved just before summer. With these modifications, the DGT hopes to achieve improvements in the fight against road accidents and driving safety.

Taking the practical driving test can be an ordeal in Catalonia. There are more than 70,000 students on waiting lists, and these figures are on the rise. Although this number corresponds to students who have passed the theoretical exam and does not mean they are ready to take the practical exam, it is an indicator that the system is unable to absorb the current demand. "More students are entering than those who take and pass the exam," says Raül Viladrich, president of the Federation of Driving Schools of Catalonia (FAC).

Catalunya Ràdio reports that the DGT will update some traffic sign pictograms. For example, the deer symbol representing "wild animals" will be replaced by a wild boar. This is bad news. It means their presence will continue. They'll also replace the symbol for a train engine with a chimney, which indicates a nearby level crossing or track (I just took my theory test and I can't remember), with a more modern train without a smoke vent. They'll also replace the symbol for "schoolchildren nearby," which is a boy running while holding the hand of a smaller girl.

The police are have been carrying out a huge operation since early this morning against a network implicated in forgery of driving licenses, centred around Girona. The organisation would distributed up to a thousand fake licenses throughout the state. The operation is being carried out in 25 state districts and is expected to end with about a thousand arrests in the coming days, most of them customers who bought these fake driving licenses.

Although it has long been a rumour and a demand, finally the deputy director of the DGT, Susana Gomez, has acknowledged that the Spanish Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) is studying a plan to present to the executive that involves making larger cars pay more to park in cities.