Driving in Guatemala vs. Iceland: Key Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Guatemala and Iceland, understanding their unique driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Key contrasts include the presence of bus lanes in Iceland, stricter speed enforcement, and contrasting alcohol limits for professional drivers. By delving into these distinctions, travelers can drive more confidently and safely in each destination.
Lanes
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicles in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Varies by location. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
guatemala:
List length: 5
iceland:
List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
No
iceland:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
N/A
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
N/A
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
guatemala:
Limited
iceland:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
guatemala:
Shared with vehicles in some areas.
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
guatemala:
Varies by location.
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
guatemala:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 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 | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
guatemala:
40-60 km/h
iceland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
80 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
guatemala:
70 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
guatemala:
70 km/h
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
guatemala:
100 km/h
iceland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
guatemala:
N/A
iceland:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
guatemala:
Limited use
iceland:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
guatemala:
Yes, common practice
iceland:
Yes
Signals
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Guatemala | 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 | 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
guatemala:
Not used in Guatemala
iceland:
N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
guatemala:
Signal when exiting
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
guatemala:
Fines may apply for misuse
iceland:
N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage
guatemala:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
iceland:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
guatemala:
Spanish; symbols are standard
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
guatemala:
Triangle-shaped with red border
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Varies, check local signs for permission | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
guatemala:
Varies, check local signs for permission
iceland:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
guatemala:
Varies by location; check for signs
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Guatemala | 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; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
guatemala:
International Driving Permit recommended
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
guatemala:
Mandatory; proof may be required
iceland:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
guatemala:
Displayed on the vehicle
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | More frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
guatemala:
More frequent use compared to some countries
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially at night | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by locality; can be substantial | Substantial penalties can apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: Professional Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
iceland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
guatemala:
0.00%
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
guatemala:
Common, especially at night
iceland:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
guatemala:
Varies by locality; can be substantial
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal
guatemala:
Can result in license suspension
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Roundabouts
| Guatemala | 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
guatemala:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting
guatemala:
Signal right when preparing to exit
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | National Police number 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact local towing services or insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
guatemala:
122
iceland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
guatemala:
110
iceland:
National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
guatemala:
Check with your insurance provider
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
guatemala:
Mandatory
iceland:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Guatemala | Iceland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines imposed | Mandatory; fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed | Fines if found using without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, often required | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; check with local authorities | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame |
Common Fines: Speeding
guatemala:
Varies; substantial fines
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts
guatemala:
Fines imposed
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
guatemala:
Fines imposed
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
guatemala:
Substantial fines
iceland:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
guatemala:
Yes, often required
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline
guatemala:
Varies; check with local authorities
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame