Driving Differences: Australia vs. Iceland Explained
When navigating the roads of Australia and Iceland, travelers encounter distinct rules and customs that shape their driving experience. From lane usage and speed limits to documentation requirements, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Discover the key contrasts that define the driving landscapes of these two fascinating nations.
Lanes
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
iceland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
iceland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
australia:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
iceland:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 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 | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | N/A |
| 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 | English; 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
australia:
Not commonly used.
iceland:
N/A
Horn Usage: Penalties
australia:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
australia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
iceland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
iceland:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame