The V-27 has taken centre stage in the recent reform. Not so much because of its immediate application, since it is not yet compulsory, but because of what it means for mobility in transition.
It was this spring that the approval of the new regulations governing roadside assistance services was announced. This was Royal Decree 159/2021, in force since 1 July. Strengthening safety in the performance of this activity was, and is, the focus of this update. In this respect, training is one of its pillars.
Among the new features (including those affecting tow-truck services), some have been widely discussed. This is the case of the V-16 sign, the light-emitting device set to replace warning triangles. However, there is another recently created sign which, although not compulsory for the time being, will become highly relevant in the coming years.
Above all in a context where smart mobility will gradually make its way. We are talking about the V-27 sign, which the DGT has created as a "virtual triangle". What exactly does it consist of?
Working in roadside assistance with the virtual triangle
The V-27 sign or "virtual triangle" will be activated in the on-board system of connected vehicles, in this case connected to the National Access Point for Traffic and Mobility Information, either directly or through a provider. Only 20% of the vehicle fleet currently has this technology, according to a study by Ganvam and Movistar cited by Coche Global. The forecast is that we will reach 35% in just over four years. In other words, there is still a long way to go.
For this reason, it is worth stressing that the new feature will not apply immediately. The V-27 sign is designed to warn of the presence of a nearby hazard, according to the text of the regulation, "when this fact has been reported by a third party to the connected vehicle platform of the Directorate-General for Traffic".
"The circumstances signalled, the attributes, their values and the form of interconnection with the national access point shall be defined by Resolution of the Director-General for Traffic", according to the text published in the BOE. The aim is to standardise geolocation and connectivity in pursuit of greater road safety for everyone. And that, of course, includes roadside assistance professionals.