Driving in Bolivia vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the diverse roads of Bolivia and Iceland, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key differences include speed limits, signaling practices at roundabouts, and the presence of bus lanes. Familiarizing yourself with these variations can significantly enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bolivia:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
No
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
iceland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| 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 | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bolivia:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
iceland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
iceland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bolivia:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
bolivia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | 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 | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | 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: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
bolivia:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | 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
bolivia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame