Driving in Iceland vs. Monaco: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the unique driving landscapes of Iceland and Monaco reveals striking contrasts in road regulations and safety measures. From lane markings to speed limits and emergency protocols, these nations showcase diverse approaches to vehicular travel. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not commonly used in Monaco. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mostly on main roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Predominantly for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled ‘BUS’. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with small vehicles or buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
monaco:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
monaco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | N/A |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | N/A |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | N/A |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Standard speed limits apply |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common for traffic violations |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
monaco:
N/A
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
monaco:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
Signals
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Rare in Monaco, usually not used |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
iceland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
monaco:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
monaco:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
monaco:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted where indicated; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
monaco:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required annually; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the vehicle windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Can be substantial; varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
monaco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
monaco:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
monaco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
monaco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 112 or 18 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Local police also available on 911 using GSM |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Available through service providers or insurance |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
monaco:
112 or 18
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
monaco:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
monaco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Monaco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fine applies if not used |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Substantial fines issued |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | High fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; varies |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically must be settled soon |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
monaco:
High fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
monaco:
Possible; varies
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon