Driving Differences: Iceland vs. Luxembourg Safety Tips
When navigating the roads of Iceland and Luxembourg, understanding their distinct regulations is vital for safe travel. Key variations include speed limits—where Iceland favors lower thresholds on rural roads, while Luxembourg opts for higher speeds on highways—and the treatment of bus lanes and emergency protocols. Stay informed to drive securely in both nations.
Lanes
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not typically used. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not typically used. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
luxembourg:
Not typically used.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
luxembourg:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
luxembourg:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
luxembourg:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
luxembourg:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 75 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 75 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 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
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
luxembourg:
75 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
luxembourg:
130 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
luxembourg:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
luxembourg:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
luxembourg:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Luxembourg |
| 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 | French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
luxembourg:
Not used in Luxembourg
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
luxembourg:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
luxembourg:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
luxembourg:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
luxembourg:
French, German, and Luxembourgish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
luxembourg:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
luxembourg:
Permitted unless signage indicates otherwise
Documentation
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; must have a valid national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; regular intervals |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
luxembourg:
Accepted; must have a valid national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
luxembourg:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
luxembourg:
Mandatory; regular intervals
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
luxembourg:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
luxembourg:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Results in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
luxembourg:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
luxembourg:
Conducted regularly; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
luxembourg:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
luxembourg:
Results in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
luxembourg:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
luxembourg:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 113 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Contact your insurance provider or automobile club |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
luxembourg:
113
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
luxembourg:
Contact your insurance provider or automobile club
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
luxembourg:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Luxembourg | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Up to €145 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; severe penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Yes; fines often collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; usually a specific period |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
luxembourg:
Varies; up to €145 for minor infractions
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
luxembourg:
Up to €145
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
luxembourg:
Varies; severe penalties
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
luxembourg:
Yes; fines often collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
luxembourg:
Varies; usually a specific period