They are still largely unknown, but in a few years that will no longer be the case. We are talking about warning lights which, by Royal Decree, will take over from our beloved advance warning triangles.
It seems that advance warning triangles, which together with reflective vests were a small revolution in their day, will soon be a thing of the past. The Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT) wants to approve – as soon as the new Government is formed – a Royal Decree to introduce light-emitting devices in Spanish cars at the beginning of 2024. These are orange lights that would mark the position of any vehicle forced to stop on the road, due to a breakdown or accident. Although the DGT has set this implementation timetable, during which the warning light would coexist with the triangle for a time, road traffic victims (and other groups) want to bring forward the mandatory use of the new device to 2022.
So what is the device provided for in the draft Royal Decree? We are talking about a small, self-contained, battery-powered unit. It lasts about two hours and is waterproof, so it is suitable for adverse weather conditions. One of the advantages of this device is its coloured light signal: not only does it point in different directions, but it can also be seen from a kilometre away.
As it is magnetic, it can also be placed on the vehicle roof from the driver’s seat, without having to get out of the vehicle; in fact, people with physical disabilities or PRMs (persons with reduced mobility) will be able to use this warning light without any problem. So will motorcyclists, as it works for any vehicle.
Help Flash, the device ahead of its time
When do you put out emergency triangles? In the event of an accident, or when the car simply breaks down and leaves us stranded on the road… right? Well, exactly the same will happen with these new warning lights which, in addition, will serve as a torch (if we find ourselves somewhere with poor visibility).
“A light to save lives”. That is how the Spanish company Netun Solutions is marketing the Help Flash device, the approved car emergency light, the only one that currently meets the requirements set out in the draft Royal Decree, which amends Annex XI, V-16 signal, of the 1998 General Vehicle Regulations.
The 2018 data are chilling: of the 1,180 people killed in fatal accidents, more than a hundred lost their lives while signalling their vehicle on the road.
Main image source: help-flash.com