Driving in Iceland vs. Israel: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Iceland and Israel, drivers encounter distinct regulations that significantly influence their journeys. From overtaking rules to speed limits, both nations prioritize road safety, albeit in different ways. Discover how these driving customs diverge, ensuring that your travels abroad remain secure and enjoyable.
Lanes
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
israel:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
israel:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
israel:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
israel:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
israel:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
israel:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
israel:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
israel:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Used before green light. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply |
| 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 | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
israel:
Used before green light.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
israel:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
iceland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
israel:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
israel:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign permits |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
israel:
Varies; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
israel:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
israel:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.01% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
israel:
0.01%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
israel:
0.01%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
israel:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
israel:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Check local numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
israel:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
israel:
Check local numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
israel:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Israel | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines issued, points possible |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines issued, usually high, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines issued, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail |
| 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
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
israel:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay