Driving in Iceland vs. Myanmar: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the road regulations of Iceland and Myanmar reveals fascinating contrasts in vehicular conduct and safety protocols. From lane usage conventions to speed limits, significant distinctions emerge, such as Iceland's emphasis on rightmost lanes for slow vehicles, compared to Myanmar's leftmost lane preference. Navigating these unique driving landscapes is essential for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No, overtaking is on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
myanmar:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
myanmar:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
myanmar:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
myanmar:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
myanmar:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
myanmar:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
myanmar:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
myanmar:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
myanmar:
70 km/h
Signals
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Myanmar |
| 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 | Burmese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
myanmar:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
myanmar:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
myanmar:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
Turns
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Prohibited unless permitted by signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use, more common in cities |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.07% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; often during festivals |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can lead to arrest and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
myanmar:
0.07%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
myanmar:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
myanmar:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
myanmar:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
myanmar:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 199 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Available through some insurance providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
myanmar:
199
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
myanmar:
Contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
myanmar:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Myanmar | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fine enforced; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines for usage while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applied for violations |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; else must be paid at office |
| 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
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
myanmar:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay