Driving in Iceland vs. Paraguay: Key Safety Differences
Iceland and Paraguay offer distinct driving experiences shaped by their unique road rules and regulations. Key contrasts include speed limits, overtaking practices, and the presence of dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either country, especially for travelers unfamiliar with local traffic norms.
Lanes
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Rarely, usually prohibited. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, mainly in urban areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color. |
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
paraguay:
Rarely, usually prohibited.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
paraguay:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, mainly in urban areas.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
paraguay:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
paraguay:
Labeled with 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
paraguay:
Limited, mainly in urban areas.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
paraguay:
Bicycle symbols; may not always be separated by color.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Yes, in major cities. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
paraguay:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
paraguay:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
paraguay:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
paraguay:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
paraguay:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
paraguay:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
iceland:
Yes
paraguay:
Yes, in major cities.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
paraguay:
Common
Signals
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Paraguay |
| 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 | Spanish; standard symbols used as well |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
paraguay:
Not used in Paraguay
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
paraguay:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
paraguay:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
paraguay:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
paraguay:
Spanish; standard symbols used as well
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
paraguay:
Triangle-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
paraguay:
Varies; usually not permitted unless indicated.
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
paraguay:
Allowed where not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
paraguay:
Required periodically; proof may be checked during stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
paraguay:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent than in some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to allow passage |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
paraguay:
More frequent than in some countries
Pedestrians Priority
iceland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
paraguay:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
paraguay:
Pull over to allow passage
Alcohol
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; police checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
paraguay:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
paraguay:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
paraguay:
Common; police checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
paraguay:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
paraguay:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
paraguay:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
paraguay:
911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
paraguay:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
paraguay:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Paraguay | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines apply; amount varies |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines and penalties |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; usually within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
paraguay:
Varies; can be substantial, worse in urban areas
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
paraguay:
Fines apply; amount varies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
paraguay:
Substantial fines and penalties
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
paraguay:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
paraguay:
Varies; usually within 30 days