Driving in the Bahamas vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of the Bahamas and Iceland as we explore their distinct road regulations and practices. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and signaling in roundabouts, understanding these disparities is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either destination. Stay informed and drive safely abroad!
Lanes
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | 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: Presence | Not common. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
iceland:
Right
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahamas:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
iceland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
iceland:
80 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
iceland:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Signals
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | 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 | 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
bahamas:
Not used
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahamas:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahamas:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bahamas:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahamas:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
iceland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | 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
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common |
| 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: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
iceland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
bahamas:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | 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
bahamas:
919
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | 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
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame