Driving in Egypt vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in vehicular regulations between Egypt and Iceland. From lane usage to speed limits, this comparison reveals significant variations that can impact your travel experience. Learn how unique cultural norms and safety measures shape the driving landscape in these two diverse nations, ensuring you stay informed while navigating abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
egypt:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
iceland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
egypt:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | N/A |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Icelandic; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
egypt:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
iceland:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
iceland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
iceland:
N/A
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
iceland:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
iceland:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
iceland:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
iceland:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
iceland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
iceland:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Egypt | 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
egypt:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
egypt:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame