Driving in Iceland vs. Ireland: Key Safety Differences

When exploring the unique road customs of Iceland and Ireland, drivers must recognize their distinct approaches to vehicle operation and safety. Key differences include driving on the right in Iceland versus the left in Ireland, varied speed limits, and specific overtaking rules. Understanding these variations is crucial for a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.

icelandireland

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in iceland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Iceland	Ireland
Driving Side	Right	Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left	Yes	No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Yes, standard overtaking side.
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 taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Driving Side

iceland:

Right

ireland:

Left

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

iceland:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

ireland:

Marks areas where passing is not allowed.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

iceland:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

ireland:

Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Left

iceland:

Yes

ireland:

No, overtake on the right.

Overtaking: On Right

iceland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

ireland:

Yes, standard overtaking side.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

ireland:

List length: 5

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

iceland:

Use rightmost lane.

ireland:

Use leftmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

ireland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

ireland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

ireland:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

ireland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Ireland
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	More common; fines can be issued on the spot.

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

ireland:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

ireland:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

ireland:

80-90 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

ireland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

ireland:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

ireland:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

ireland:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

Yes

ireland:

More common; fines can be issued on the spot.

Signals

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	Iceland	Ireland
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
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	English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Triangles with red borders

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

iceland:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles

ireland:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

ireland:

Indicates the light is about to turn green.

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

iceland:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

ireland:

Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

ireland:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

ireland:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

ireland:

English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

ireland:

Triangles with red borders

Turns

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	Iceland		Ireland
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by signs

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

ireland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Iceland	Ireland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Required
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

ireland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

ireland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

ireland:

Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

ireland:

Required

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

ireland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Iceland		Ireland
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol	Pull over to the right and stop if necessary		Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Emergency Vehicles: Protocol

iceland:

Pull over to the right and stop if necessary

ireland:

Pull over to the left and stop if necessary

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Ireland
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

ireland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

ireland:

Random breath testing is common.

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

ireland:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

ireland:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Ireland
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

ireland:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

ireland:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Ireland
Contact: General Emergency	112	112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

iceland:

112

ireland:

112 or 999

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

ireland:

112 or 999

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

ireland:

Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

ireland:

Required

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

ireland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Ireland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

ireland:

Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

ireland:

€60 fine and two penalty points

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

ireland:

€60 fine and three penalty points

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

ireland:

€80 and three penalty points

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

ireland:

Possible; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

ireland:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay