Driving in Iceland vs. Qatar: Key Safety Differences

Explore the fascinating contrasts in roadway regulations between Iceland and Qatar, where unique driving customs shape safety on the streets. While Iceland emphasizes strict alcohol limits and distinct lane usage, Qatar boasts variable speed limits and specific overtaking rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.

icelandqatar

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	Qatar
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.
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 authorized vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits.

Overtaking: On Right

iceland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

qatar:

Allowed only in designated situations, like when vehicles ahead are turning left.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

qatar:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

qatar:

Reserved for buses and authorized vehicles.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

qatar:

Labeled with appropriate road signs or pavement markings.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

qatar:

Limited

Cycle Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

qatar:

Shared with vehicles, as dedicated lanes are rare.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

qatar:

N/A

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

qatar:

Not applicable

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

qatar:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

qatar:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Qatar
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	60-80 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h on gravel roads	100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	100 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
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits

Urban Areas: Standard

iceland:

50 km/h

qatar:

60-80 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

iceland:

30 km/h

qatar:

60 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

qatar:

100-120 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

qatar:

100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

qatar:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

qatar:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

qatar:

100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

qatar:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

qatar:

Electronic signs display current limits

Signals

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

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

qatar:

Not used in Qatar

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

qatar:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

qatar:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

qatar:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

qatar:

Arabic and English; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

qatar:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Iceland		Qatar
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs		Permitted unless prohibited by signs

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

qatar:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

qatar:

Permitted unless prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Iceland	Qatar
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
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

qatar:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

qatar:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

qatar:

Not mandatory

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Qatar
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Can be substantial; penalties are severe
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

iceland:

0.05%

qatar:

0.00%

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

qatar:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

qatar:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

qatar:

Common; checkpoints used regularly

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

qatar:

Can be substantial; penalties are severe

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

qatar:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Qatar
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

qatar:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

qatar:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Qatar
Contact: General Emergency	112	999
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	999 or local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or contact private services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

iceland:

112

qatar:

999

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

qatar:

999 or local authorities

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

qatar:

Check with your insurance provider or contact private services

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

qatar:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

qatar:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Qatar
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; can be substantial, point system applies
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time	Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	Minimum 500 QR
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	Minimum 500 QR, point system applies
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Yes, or online payment options
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

qatar:

Varies; can be substantial, point system applies

Common Fines: Alcohol

iceland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

qatar:

Severe penalties; fines and imprisonment possible

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

qatar:

Minimum 500 QR

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

qatar:

Minimum 500 QR, point system applies

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

qatar:

Minimum 6000 QR, point system applies

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

qatar:

Yes, or online payment options

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

qatar:

Payments should be timely to avoid additional penalties