Driving in Belgium vs. Iceland: Key Safety Tips
Discover the unique aspects of road navigation in Belgium and Iceland, where driving customs and regulations vary significantly. From lane markings to speed limits, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring your safety while abroad. Explore how overtaking rules and penalties differ in these two distinct nations, and drive with confidence on your next journey.
Lanes
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belgium:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | 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 | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belgium:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
belgium:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belgium:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Belgium | 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
belgium:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame