Driving in Belize vs. Iceland: Key Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads of Belize and Iceland, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol restrictions, which are crucial for ensuring safety abroad. Understanding these variations can make all the difference for a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | 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 |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
belize:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
iceland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belize:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
iceland:
80 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
iceland:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
iceland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | 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
belize:
Not used in Belize
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
belize:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
belize:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
belize:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belize:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belize | 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 | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | 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
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belize:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory
iceland:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | 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
belize:
0.08%
iceland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belize:
0.05%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
belize:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
belize:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Belize | 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
belize:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
belize:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
belize:
911
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | 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
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
belize:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame