Driving in Iceland vs. Russia: Key Safety Differences

When it comes to navigating the roads, driving regulations in Iceland and Russia present intriguing contrasts. From speed limits to traffic signals, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Notably, Iceland enforces stricter alcohol limits, while Russia permits right turns on red. Explore the nuances to drive with confidence in both nations.

icelandrussia

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	Russia
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the left edge on divided roads.	Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.
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 taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	Labeled with specific road signs or markings.
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.

russia:

Used to separate opposite directions on undivided roads.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

russia:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

russia:

Reserved for buses and taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

russia:

Labeled with specific road signs or markings.

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

russia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

russia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	Russia
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	20 km/h
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	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	70-80 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	90 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 also mailed

Urban Areas: Standard

iceland:

50 km/h

russia:

60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

iceland:

30 km/h

russia:

20 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

russia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

russia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

russia:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

russia:

110 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

russia:

90-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

russia:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

iceland:

russia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

russia:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

Yes

russia:

Yes; but fines are also mailed

Signals

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

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

russia:

Not used in Russia

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

russia:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

russia:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

russia:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

russia:

Russian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

russia:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

russia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

russia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

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	Iceland		Russia
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required		Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield		Usually indicated in vehicle documents

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

russia:

Mandatory and more frequent for older vehicles

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

russia:

Usually indicated in vehicle documents

Alcohol

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	Iceland	Russia
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.035%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common, especially in cities
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: General Drivers

iceland:

0.05%

russia:

0.035%

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

russia:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

russia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

russia:

Common, especially in cities

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

russia:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

russia:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Russia
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

russia:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

russia:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Russia
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	Check local numbers; 113 is common
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: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

russia:

Check local numbers; 113 is common

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

russia:

Check with your insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

russia:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Russia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	Fines apply, points in the record
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

russia:

Varies; substantial fines

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

russia:

Fines apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

russia:

Fines apply, points in the record

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

russia:

Fines apply

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

russia:

Possible; however, fines often paid online or by bank transfer

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

russia:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay