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.

denmarkiceland

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in denmark is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in denmark is 93

2.123 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for denmark is 2.123 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	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:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

denmark:

Electronic signs display current limits.

iceland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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