Driving in El Salvador vs. Iceland: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of El Salvador and Iceland, understanding their unique regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and rules for emergency vehicles. While Iceland emphasizes strict traffic enforcement, El Salvador showcases a more relaxed approach, making familiarity with these contrasts essential for any traveler.
Lanes
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
el salvador:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 90 km/h on paved roads |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h on paved roads |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | 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 | Spanish; 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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
iceland:
N/A
Horn Usage: Penalties
el salvador:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
el salvador:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | 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
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
el salvador:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| El salvador | 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
el salvador:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
iceland:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame