Driving in Colombia vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
When driving in Colombia versus Iceland, diverse regulations and practices come into play. From speed limits and lane usage to documentation requirements, this comparison highlights essential distinctions. Discover how unique traffic signals and road etiquette can impact your journey, ensuring a safer and more informed experience while navigating each country’s roads.
Lanes
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | 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 | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
colombia:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
colombia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
colombia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
colombia:
Not applicable
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-60 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 | 70-80 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not applicable | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; police may issue fines at the moment. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
colombia:
30-60 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
70-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
colombia:
70-80 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
60-80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
colombia:
90-120 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
colombia:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
colombia:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
colombia:
Not applicable
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
colombia:
Yes; police may issue fines at the moment.
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Colombia | 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 | Spanish; 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
colombia:
Not used in Colombia
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
colombia:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
colombia:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
colombia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
colombia:
Spanish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
colombia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
colombia:
Prohibited unless there is a specific signal allowing it
iceland:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Colombia | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
colombia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
colombia:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in vehicle
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
colombia:
Displayed on windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
colombia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
colombia:
0.04%
iceland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
colombia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
colombia:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
colombia:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
colombia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Colombia | 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
colombia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
colombia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 123 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 123 or local numbers | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
colombia:
123
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
colombia:
123 or local numbers
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
colombia:
Check with your insurance provider or specialized roadside services
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
colombia:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Colombia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $300, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $50 to $150, points on license | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $300, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations | 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
colombia:
Varies; $50 to $300, points on license
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
colombia:
$50 to $150, points on license
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
colombia:
$100 to $300, points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
colombia:
Possible; fines usually paid online or at designated locations
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
colombia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame