Driving in Cyprus vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the contrasting road regulations of Cyprus and Iceland, travelers will uncover notable distinctions in driving practices and safety measures. From driving on different sides of the road to varied speed limits and traffic sign languages, understanding these nuances is essential for a secure and enjoyable journey in each unique environment.
Lanes
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited. | 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 | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Usually reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
cyprus:
Left
iceland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
cyprus:
Prohibited.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
cyprus:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
cyprus:
Limited
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
cyprus:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cyprus:
50 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
80 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
cyprus:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cyprus:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
cyprus:
100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
cyprus:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Signals
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Cyprus | N/A |
| 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 | Greek and English; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
iceland:
N/A
Horn Usage: Penalties
cyprus:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
cyprus:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits without additional permits | 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, periodic inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cyprus | 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
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used routinely | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and strict | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
cyprus:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
cyprus:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 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: Traffic Police
cyprus:
112
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cyprus | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Strict enforcement | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Strict enforcement, fines apply | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | 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
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame