Driving in Iceland vs. Nepal: Key Safety Differences
Explore the contrasting road regulations and driving customs between Iceland and Nepal, where safety practices differ significantly. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, understanding these variations ensures safer travels. Discover how local rules and cultural norms shape the driving experience in these two unique destinations.
Lanes
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, with caution. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
nepal:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
nepal:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
iceland:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Nepal |
| 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 | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
iceland:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
nepal:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
nepal:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
nepal:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
nepal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
nepal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
iceland:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay