The Directorate General of Traffic classified internal documents about the V16 beacon as auxiliary to prevent their public disclosure. The Transparency Council has considered that this information was relevant for citizens' decision-making. Traffic only indicated that the compliance certificates were on its website, without confirming the existence of test reports or directly linking to them. This controversy adds to the widespread rejection the device has faced since its mandatory implementation five months ago.
The technology behind the device that convinces no one 🔧
The connected V16 beacon uses GPS geolocation and mobile communications to send the vehicle's position to the DGT cloud. Its operation depends on a lithium battery with limited autonomy and road network coverage. Manufacturers must certify that the device withstands extreme temperatures and impacts, but the DGT has not clarified whether independent test reports verifying this data exist. Without transparency in testing, trust in the system remains low.
Transparency asks to see the papers, Traffic plays the music 🎭
The Transparency Council has asked the DGT to show documents proving the V16 works as promised. But Traffic, instead of opening the drawer, responds by telling you to look on its website, like saying the washing machine manual is online but not telling you which page. Meanwhile, Director Pere Navarro acknowledges that implementation is slower than a pedestrian on crutches. For many, the V16 remains the invention nobody asked for.