Driving in Iceland vs. Ivory Coast: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison between Iceland and Ivory Coast reveals distinct contrasts in lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals. Notably, Iceland enforces stricter alcohol limits, while Ivory Coast permits right turns on red, highlighting essential variations for travelers.
Lanes
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
ivory coast:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
ivory coast:
Typically reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
ivory coast:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
ivory coast:
Exclusive for bicycles, but limited in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
ivory coast:
Bicycle symbols and possibly colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 90 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not applicable |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, for some infractions. |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
ivory coast:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
ivory coast:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
ivory coast:
110 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not applicable
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
ivory coast:
Yes, for some infractions.
Signals
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Ivory Coast |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Not used in Ivory Coast
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
ivory coast:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
iceland:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
ivory coast:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
ivory coast:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
ivory coast:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
ivory coast:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
ivory coast:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
ivory coast:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 vehicle inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
ivory coast:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
ivory coast:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
ivory coast:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
ivory coast:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
iceland:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
ivory coast:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
ivory coast:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
ivory coast:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| 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: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
ivory coast:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
ivory coast:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
ivory coast:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
ivory coast:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
ivory coast:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
ivory coast:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
ivory coast:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
ivory coast:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 170 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
ivory coast:
170
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
ivory coast:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
ivory coast:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
ivory coast:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Ivory coast | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; fines may apply, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Varies, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines may apply, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines may apply, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible for some infractions |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically stipulated |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
ivory coast:
Varies; fines may apply, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
ivory coast:
Varies, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
ivory coast:
Fines may apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
ivory coast:
Possible for some infractions
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
ivory coast:
Varies; typically stipulated