Driving in Dominican Republic vs. Iceland: Key Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads, the Dominican Republic and Iceland present intriguing contrasts. From lane usage and speed regulations to traffic signals and road etiquette, these countries embody unique driving cultures. Understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey, especially for travelers exploring new terrains.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
dominican republic:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
iceland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
dominican republic:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
iceland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| 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
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
dominican republic:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
iceland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Penalties
dominican republic:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
dominican republic:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
dominican republic:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | 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 | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
dominican republic:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
iceland:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | 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
dominican republic:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 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 | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame