A lot of drivers in Spain bought the new V16 emergency warning lights thinking they were basically a modern replacement for the old warning triangles.

Buy it once, leave it in the car and forget about it.

Turns out it is not that simple.

Spain’s traffic authority, the DGT, has now confirmed that the connected V16 devices eventually expire because of the SIM card installed inside them. And if drivers fail to replace outdated or non approved models in the future, they could end up facing fines of between €80 and €200.

The clarification came after growing confusion around the devices and whether they had an expiry date at all.

During a recent press conference, DGT director Pere Navarro initially said the lights did not expire. Moments later, he corrected himself and explained that they effectively stop being valid after around 11 years because that is when the internal SIM card reaches the end of its service life.

That detail caught many people off guard.Especially because the old emergency triangles could sit in the boot of a car for years without anybody really thinking about them unless they became damaged.

The new devices work very differently.

Why Spain’s V16 lights are connected to the DGT

The entire point of the V16 system is connectivity.

Unlike the old reflective triangles, these warning lights communicate directly with the DGT’s traffic platform through a built in SIM card. Once activated during a breakdown or accident, the device can send the vehicle’s location automatically to traffic authorities.

The idea is that nearby drivers can then be warned much faster about a stopped vehicle ahead.

And to be fair, the safety logic behind the system is easy to understand.

For years, one of the biggest dangers during roadside breakdowns came from drivers having to get out of the vehicle and walk along roads or motorways to place warning triangles properly.

That becomes especially risky at night, during heavy rain or on fast moving roads.

The V16 beacon was supposed to solve that problem.Instead of walking down the road carrying triangles, drivers simply place the flashing light on the roof of the vehicle and remain close to the car.

That is the reason the DGT has defended the system so strongly despite the criticism surrounding it.

But because the device relies on connectivity, it also behaves more like a piece of technology than a traditional safety tool.

It depends on batteries.It depends on a SIM card.

And eventually, according to the DGT itself, it needs replacing.

Many drivers are questioning whether the new system is really better

That is where the debate has started becoming more heated.

Some drivers fully support the move away from triangles and believe the connected lights are genuinely safer. Others feel the system has introduced unnecessary complications for something that used to be very straightforward.

Part of the frustration comes from the fact that many people assumed the V16 light was a permanent purchase.

Now they are discovering it has a limited lifespan.

There have also been complaints about other aspects of the devices. Some motorists questioned their brightness, others raised concerns about durability in bad weather and some criticised the fact that batteries need checking regularly to guarantee the device still works properly.

At one point, there was even controversy surrounding unofficial maps allegedly showing the location of connected beacons online, which triggered privacy concerns among some users.

That controversy helped fuel suspicion around a system many people already viewed as overly technological.

Still, the DGT is making one thing very clear : The connected V16 lights are staying.

Spain’s traffic authority says drivers must already be using approved V16 devices

Pere Navarro also reminded drivers during the press conference that the connected V16 system is already in force in Spain and that motorists are expected to carry approved devices connected to the DGT platform.

That means not every beacon sold online necessarily complies with Spanish regulations.

Drivers must use homologated models capable of connecting to the DGT 3.0 traffic system, which allows authorities to receive the vehicle’s location automatically during a roadside emergency or breakdown.

And yes, the fines are real.

According to the DGT, motorists carrying non approved devices could face penalties of around €80. If the warning light is not used correctly during an emergency situation or breakdown, the fine could reportedly increase to €200.

Even though the 11 year lifespan sounds long, the announcement still changes how many people see the product.

The old triangles were passive objects. You bought them once and they simply existed in the background for years.

The V16 lights are different. They belong to a newer generation of connected driving equipment where even emergency devices now depend on telecommunications systems, batteries and digital infrastructure.

And honestly, that reflects what is happening across modern motoring in general.

Cars themselves are becoming increasingly connected and software dependent. Safety systems that once worked mechanically are now tied to apps, sensors, updates and data platforms.

For some drivers, that feels reassuring and modern. For others, it feels like ordinary driving is slowly becoming more expensive, more monitored and more complicated than it used to be.

Either way, millions of motorists in Spain are eventually going to have to adapt because the old warning triangles are gradually disappearing and the V16 system is becoming the new normal on Spanish roads.

Rafael Nadal has revealed the long-term physical consequences of competing through pain during his tennis career, stating that years of anti-inflammatory medication caused lasting intestinal damage. The 22-time Grand Slam champion made the comments during an interview with Spanish sports newspaper AS.

During the interview, Nadal reflected on the sacrifices required to continue competing at the highest level despite repeated injuries affecting multiple parts of his body over nearly two decades on the ATP Tour. The former world number one said he had taken “many more anti-inflammatories than I would have liked” throughout his career and revealed the medication caused serious health complications.

Nadal describes long-term health complications linked to medication

Nadal stated that he has “two perforations” in his intestines as a result of prolonged anti-inflammatory use, describing the physical cost of continuing to compete despite chronic pain issues. Much of Nadal’s career was affected by injuries, particularly the chronic foot condition Müller-Weiss syndrome, which repeatedly threatened his ability to continue playing professionally.

The condition causes degeneration of a bone in the foot and forced Nadal to adapt both his movement and training methods throughout his career. In the interview, Nadal explained that customised insoles designed to reduce pressure on his foot altered the way he moved on court and contributed to further physical strain elsewhere in his body.

He said attempts to protect one injury often created new problems in other areas, while recurring knee injuries, abdominal muscle tears, hip issues and back problems added to the physical demands of his career.

Injuries became a defining part of Nadal’s career

Throughout his career, Nadal became known for his physical intensity on court, regularly playing long matches that placed heavy strain on his body. His dominance on clay earned him the nickname “King of Clay”, with the Spaniard winning a record 14 French Open titles between 2005 and 2022.

Nadal also completed the career Grand Slam twice and won Olympic gold medals in both singles and doubles, cementing his place among the most successful players in tennis history.

However, injuries repeatedly interrupted his career. He missed multiple Grand Slam tournaments because of foot, knee, wrist and abdominal problems, while lengthy recovery periods became increasingly common during the latter stages of his time on the ATP Tour. Despite these setbacks, Nadal continued returning to competition and remained one of the sport’s leading players well into his late thirties.

Medical experts have long warned about prolonged NSAID use

Medical experts have repeatedly warned about the risks associated with prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly known as NSAIDs.

Research published in the medical journal Gastroenterología y Hepatología states that long-term NSAID use can damage both the upper and lower digestive tract, potentially causing ulcers, bleeding and intestinal injury.

Clinical guidance published by UpToDate also notes that prolonged use can contribute to intestinal perforations in some patients. Nadal’s comments provide further insight into the physical strain experienced by elite athletes competing through chronic injuries over long periods of time, particularly in sports involving repetitive stress and extensive travel schedules.

Despite the long-term health issues he discussed, Nadal said he remains grateful for his career and everything he achieved in professional tennis.

Fuengirola council teams have cleared motorhomes and caravans from the Feria grounds and repainted all parking and market stall markings with stricter dimensions to stop oversized vehicles.

None of the fresh spaces measure large enough for a motorhome, so none can park legally inside the lines anymore. Motorhomes or caravan towers that attempt overnight stays by crossing the designated lines could receive fines reaching €200.

Motorhome bone of contention

Neighbours in surrounding flats have been voicing complaints for years over the site operating as an unofficial and free camping ground without proper facilities, particularly for grey water discharge that creates unpleasant smells and potential hygiene hazards in the neighbourhood.

Motorhome websites continue to recommend Fuengirola Feria grounds as a free overnight parking spot even after these updates took effect. Motorhomers, while welcome holidaymakers in Fuengirola, will now have to find legal pay sites to camp at.

Feria grounds gain over 700 regulated parking bays

Services from Fuengirola Council push forward with the council parking plan through reorganisation at the Feria grounds. This work supplies more than 700 units for car parking and adds to nearly 500 created earlier in the mandate for a running total above 1,200 spaces.

Mayor Ana Mula inspected the road markings and stated that the Feria grounds always acted as a major parking zone but never received proper regulation or ordering. Teams examined methods to use the asphalt patches at the entrance where fairground attractions normally locate, plus the edges of central and lateral streets.

Changes in the central zone around the casetas have now introduced one-way traffic heading to the Palacio de la Paz, while parking becomes possible on both road sides. Mula said that these modifications will make 700 parking places available for local residents and bring the overall figure close to 1,200 from fresh actions and reorderings such as this in Fuengirola.

Additional parking expansions planned for coming months

Works begin shortly on the initial phase of Montaña del Deporte in Los Pacos to introduce 56 extra spaces in that district.

Designs also include over 1,000 parking spots under the future Santa Fe-Antonio Basilio stadium in Los Boliches once the licensing contracting finishes.

Fuengirola residents at the end of their tether with motorhomes and caravans taking over