Driving in Iceland vs. Indonesia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Iceland and Indonesia, travelers will encounter notable variations in traffic rules and regulations. From driving on opposite sides to unique overtaking practices, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safety while abroad. Discover how these two nations’ approaches to road usage diverge, making your journey smoother and more informed.
Lanes
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
indonesia:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
indonesia:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
indonesia:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
indonesia:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Indonesia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Indonesian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
indonesia:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
indonesia:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
indonesia:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Varies by region; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
indonesia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
indonesia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Check local emergency numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days