Driving Differences: Georgia vs. Iceland Explained
When navigating the roads of Georgia and Iceland, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experience. From variable speed limits and lane usage to alcohol restrictions and penalties, understanding these contrasts is essential for a secure journey. Explore how these countries differ to ensure safe travels in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Georgia | 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. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or three occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
georgia:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
georgia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
georgia:
Yes
iceland:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Georgia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h on gravel roads |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 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 | 110-120 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
georgia:
30-50 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
georgia:
20-40 km/h
iceland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
georgia:
80-100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
georgia:
110-120 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
georgia:
100-110 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
georgia:
90-100 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
georgia:
Yes
iceland:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
iceland:
N/A
Signals
| Georgia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | N/A |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| 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 | Georgian; 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
georgia:
Not used
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
georgia:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
georgia:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
georgia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Georgia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Georgia | 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 | Required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
georgia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Alcohol
| Georgia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
georgia:
0.03%
iceland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
georgia:
0.00%
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
georgia:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Georgia | 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
georgia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
georgia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Georgia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
georgia:
112
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
georgia:
Recommended
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Georgia | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 50 GEL | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 10 GEL | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | 200 GEL | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; but usually paid later | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
georgia:
50 GEL
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
georgia:
10 GEL
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
georgia:
200 GEL
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame