Driving in Denmark vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Denmark and Iceland, understanding the distinct driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key differences include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol enforcement, each reflecting unique road safety practices. This comparison highlights how these Nordic nations approach vehicular rules, ensuring travelers are well-informed while abroad.
Lanes
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used temporarily in construction zones. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic. | 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 bicycles and taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
denmark:
Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
denmark:
Used temporarily in construction zones.
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
denmark:
Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
denmark:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
denmark:
Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
denmark:
Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
denmark:
Not applicable
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110-130 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, for minor offenses. | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
denmark:
80 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
denmark:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
denmark:
110-130 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
denmark:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
denmark:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
denmark:
Electronic signs display current limits
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
denmark:
Yes, for minor offenses.
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green. | 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 | Danish; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
denmark:
Used before green.
iceland:
N/A
Horn Usage: Penalties
denmark:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
denmark:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
denmark:
Danish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
denmark:
Triangular with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Left Turn: General | Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians. | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign. | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Left Turn: General
denmark:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
iceland:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
denmark:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
denmark:
Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
denmark:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
denmark:
Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; carried out by the police | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
denmark:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
denmark:
Common; carried out by the police
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
denmark:
Can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
denmark:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if taking any exit other than first | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
denmark:
Signal left if taking any exit other than first
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
denmark:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact general emergency to report traffic issues | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurer or patrol services | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
denmark:
Contact general emergency to report traffic issues
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
denmark:
Contact your insurer or patrol services
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
denmark:
Recommended but not mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Denmark | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, use of hands-free required | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and possible license points | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 14 days | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
denmark:
Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Alcohol
denmark:
Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
denmark:
Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
denmark:
Fines apply, use of hands-free required
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
denmark:
Significant fines and possible license points
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
denmark:
Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
denmark:
Varies; typically within 14 days
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame