Driving in Iceland vs. Morocco: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the distinctions in road regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience. This comparison of Iceland and Morocco highlights key disparities, such as speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations. Whether navigating unique bus lanes or adjusting to varying signaling practices, being informed can significantly enhance your travel safety.
Lanes
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
morocco:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
morocco:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Signals
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Morocco |
| 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 | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
iceland:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
morocco:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
morocco:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
morocco:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on the windshield. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
morocco:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
morocco:
Substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
morocco:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
morocco:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 19 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay