Driving Differences: Iceland vs Romania Explained
When exploring the roads of Iceland and Romania, drivers encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey. This comparison sheds light on critical factors that influence road etiquette and safety in each country.
Lanes
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
romania:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 90 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 | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Romania |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| 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 | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
romania:
Not used in Romania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
romania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
iceland:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
romania:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
romania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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 | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
romania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
romania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
iceland:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist