Driving Differences: Argentina vs. Iceland Explained
Exploring the contrasts in vehicular regulations between Argentina and Iceland reveals notable distinctions that impact road safety and navigation. From speed limits to lane usage, understanding these driving nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Discover how each nation approaches traffic signals, penalties, and emergency services to enhance your travel experience.
Lanes
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with signs and road markings. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
argentina:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
argentina:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
argentina:
Labeled with signs and road markings.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-110 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110-130 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
argentina:
40-60 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
argentina:
40 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
80-110 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
argentina:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
argentina:
110-130 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
argentina:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
argentina:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Signals
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Argentina | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines may apply for misuse | N/A |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
argentina:
Not used in Argentina
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
argentina:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
argentina:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
argentina:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
argentina:
Spanish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
argentina:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
argentina:
Usually not allowed unless indicated by a sign
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
argentina:
Varies by locality; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
argentina:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
argentina:
Required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
argentina:
Displayed on windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
argentina:
Frequent use in some areas
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
argentina:
0.00%
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
argentina:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
argentina:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
argentina:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ACA | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
argentina:
911
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
argentina:
101
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
argentina:
Check with your insurance provider or ACA
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
argentina:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Argentina | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Sometimes; fines can also be paid later | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
argentina:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
argentina:
Fines apply
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
argentina:
Fines apply
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
argentina:
Fines apply
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
argentina:
Sometimes; fines can also be paid later
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
argentina:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame