Driving in Iceland vs. Kazakhstan: Key Differences Explained

When comparing the driving landscapes of Iceland and Kazakhstan, notable distinctions emerge that are crucial for safe travel. From speed limits to lane usage, drivers in Iceland face stricter alcohol regulations, while Kazakhstan allows right turns on red. Understanding these contrasts can significantly enhance your road experience in either country.

icelandkazakhstan

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	Kazakhstan
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Varies by region
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	Exclusive for bicycles where present.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

kazakhstan:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

kazakhstan:

Reserved for buses.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

kazakhstan:

Labeled with specific signs and road markings.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

kazakhstan:

Varies by region

Cycle Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

kazakhstan:

Exclusive for bicycles where present.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

kazakhstan:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Kazakhstan
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	90 km/h

Urban Areas: Standard

iceland:

50 km/h

kazakhstan:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

iceland:

30 km/h

kazakhstan:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

kazakhstan:

80-90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

kazakhstan:

70-80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

kazakhstan:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

kazakhstan:

110 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

kazakhstan:

90 km/h

Signals

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	Iceland	Kazakhstan
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Kazakhstan
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	Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Triangular with red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

kazakhstan:

Not used in Kazakhstan

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

kazakhstan:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

kazakhstan:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

kazakhstan:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

kazakhstan:

Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

kazakhstan:

Triangular with red border

Turns

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	Iceland		Kazakhstan
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Allowed unless prohibited by signs

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

kazakhstan:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

kazakhstan:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Iceland	Kazakhstan
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

kazakhstan:

Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

kazakhstan:

Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

kazakhstan:

Mandatory annual vehicle inspection

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

kazakhstan:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

kazakhstan:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Iceland		Kazakhstan
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Moderate use

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

iceland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

kazakhstan:

Moderate use

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Kazakhstan
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	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%

kazakhstan:

0.00%

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

kazakhstan:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

kazakhstan:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

kazakhstan:

Common; checkpoints used in some areas

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

kazakhstan:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

kazakhstan:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Kazakhstan
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

kazakhstan:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

kazakhstan:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Kazakhstan
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	Call 102
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: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

kazakhstan:

Call 102

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

kazakhstan:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

kazakhstan:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Kazakhstan
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	Fines apply for non-use
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	Fines apply for handheld use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
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

kazakhstan:

Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent

Common Fines: Alcohol

iceland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

kazakhstan:

Substantial fines, potential imprisonment

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

kazakhstan:

Fines apply for non-use

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

kazakhstan:

Fines apply for handheld use while driving

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

kazakhstan:

Substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

kazakhstan:

Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

kazakhstan:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay