Iceland vs. Netherlands: Driving Differences Uncovered

When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of vehicle operation is essential for a safe experience. This comparison between Iceland and the Netherlands reveals distinct contrasts in road markings, speed limits, and regulations. Notably, while Iceland favors gravel road speeds and lacks variable limits, the Netherlands boasts advanced electronic signage and more intricate lane markings. Stay informed for a safer journey!

icelandnetherlands

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in iceland is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Iceland	Netherlands
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.	Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.
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.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.
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.

netherlands:

Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

iceland:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

netherlands:

Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

netherlands:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

netherlands:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

netherlands:

Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

netherlands:

Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

netherlands:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

netherlands:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Netherlands
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	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	100-130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

netherlands:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

netherlands:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

netherlands:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

netherlands:

100-130 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

netherlands:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

netherlands:

80-100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

netherlands:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

netherlands:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

Yes

netherlands:

Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation

Signals

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	Iceland	Netherlands
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Netherlands
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	Dutch; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

netherlands:

Not used in Netherlands

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

netherlands:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

netherlands:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

netherlands:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

netherlands:

Dutch; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

netherlands:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Iceland		Netherlands
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Not allowed unless a green arrow is present
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

netherlands:

Not allowed unless a green arrow is present

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

netherlands:

Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs

Documentation

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	Iceland	Netherlands
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Periodic technical inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	No sticker used; information in vehicle registration
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

netherlands:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

netherlands:

Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

netherlands:

Periodic technical inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

netherlands:

No sticker used; information in vehicle registration

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

netherlands:

Recommended

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Netherlands
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

netherlands:

0.02%

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

netherlands:

Common; checkpoints used

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

netherlands:

Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

netherlands:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Netherlands
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		No signal required unless exiting immediately
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal right when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

netherlands:

No signal required unless exiting immediately

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

netherlands:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Netherlands
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or ANWB
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

netherlands:

Call 112 for police assistance

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

netherlands:

Check with your insurance provider or ANWB

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

netherlands:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Netherlands
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; can be significant, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	Fines apply, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Fines apply, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; payment within specified period required

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

netherlands:

Varies; can be significant, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

netherlands:

Fines apply, points on license

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

netherlands:

Fines apply, points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

netherlands:

Fines apply, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

netherlands:

Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

netherlands:

Varies; payment within specified period required