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 And if drivers fail to replace outdated or non approved models in the future, they could end up facing fines of between €80 and €200.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.

Three new large-scale epidemiological studies have found associations between the intake of specific food additives and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

The findings are based on data from the NutriNet-Santé cohort, a French population study following more than 100,000 adults who regularly report detailed dietary intake using repeated web-based food records.

The research was carried out by teams from Inserm, INRAE, Sorbonne Paris Nord University, Université Paris Cité and CNAM.

Findings published in major medical journals

According to Inserm, the results were published in three peer-reviewed journals: Diabetes Care, European Journal of Epidemiology and European Heart Journal.  The studies examined exposure to three main groups of additives: synthetic food colourings, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives, all widely used in processed and ultra-processed foods.

Researchers reported statistically significant associations between higher consumption of some of these additives and increased risk of chronic disease outcomes, after adjusting for diet quality and lifestyle factors.

Data drawn from long-term dietary tracking

Exposure estimates were based on repeated 24-hour dietary records collected over several years.

Participants in the cohort logged thousands of food and drink items, which were then cross-referenced with food composition databases identifying additive content in commercial products. The dataset included more than 100,000 participants and millions of dietary records, allowing researchers to estimate long-term exposure to individual additives and mixtures of additives.

Colourings, preservatives and sweeteners analysed separately

The studies separated additives into specific functional categories rather than treating them as a single group. One of the key findings was a link between synthetic food colourings and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

These colourings included additives such as E102 (tartrazine), E110 (sunset yellow), E122 (carmoisine), and E124 (ponceau 4R), which are commonly used in soft drinks, confectionery and processed foods. Preservatives linked to cancer and cardiovascular disease

A second group examined was preservatives, particularly those used in processed meats and packaged foods. These included nitrites and nitrates (E249–E252), commonly used in cured meats such as bacon, ham and sausages, as well as other preservation agents used to extend shelf life in packaged products. Researchers reported associations between higher intake of these preservatives and increased risk of both cancer and cardiovascular disease outcomes.

Artificial sweeteners included in metabolic risk analysis

A third category involved artificial sweeteners, widely used in sugar-free products. These included aspartame, acesulfame-K, and sucralose, which were analysed in relation to type 2 diabetes risk and other metabolic outcomes.

Results varied depending on the compound, with some showing stronger associations than others.

Combined exposure also assessed

Researchers also examined combined exposure to multiple additives, reflecting real-world dietary patterns where individuals consume mixtures of colourings, preservatives and sweeteners.

Higher combined exposure was associated with increased risk of several chronic diseases, although the strength of association varied between outcomes.

Disease outcomes tracked over long follow-up

One study focused on cancer incidence over several years of follow-up. It found associations between higher intake of certain preservatives, particularly nitrites and nitrates, and increased incidence of cancers including breast and prostate cancer in subgroup analyses.

A separate analysis focusing on type 2 diabetes found associations with both synthetic colourings and certain sweeteners. Cardiovascular analysis also identified links between some preservatives and increased risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Not all additives showed consistent associations

Researchers stressed that not all additives studied showed measurable relationships with disease outcomes.

Some compounds showed no statistically significant association after adjustment for confounders such as smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, age and overall diet quality. The authors emphasised that dietary patterns as a whole may play a larger role in disease risk than any single additive.

Study design and population details

The NutriNet-Santé cohort was launched in 2009 and is one of the largest ongoing nutritional epidemiology studies in Europe. Participants provide repeated dietary records several times per year, allowing researchers to assess long-term dietary exposure. Health outcomes are tracked through self-reported medical data and linkage with national health databases.

Strengths and limitations

Researchers highlighted the large sample size and repeated dietary measurements as key strengths. However, they also acknowledged limitations, including possible measurement errors in self-reported food intake and the inability to fully rule out residual confounding.

The findings are therefore observational and cannot establish direct cause-and-effect relationships.

Scientific interpretation and wider context

Researchers emphasised that results should be interpreted within the context of overall dietary patterns rather than individual foods or additives in isolation. They called for further experimental research to investigate biological mechanisms, particularly involving long-term exposure to additive mixtures.

Previous work from the same cohort has already linked ultra-processed food consumption with increased risk of chronic diseases.

Public health relevance

The studies contribute to ongoing debate about the health impact of processed foods and food formulation practices. Researchers stated that while associations were observed, this does not mean all additives are harmful, but some may require further evaluation.

Conclusion of findings

The studies provide new evidence of associations between specific food additives, including synthetic colourings (E-numbers such as E102 and E110), preservatives (nitrites and nitrates E249, E252), and artificial sweeteners (aspartame, acesulfame-K and sucralose), and increased risk of chronic diseases.

Although causation has not been established, researchers say the consistency of findings across large population datasets warrants further investigation into long-term dietary exposure and health outcomes.

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.