Driving in Iceland vs. Senegal: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Iceland and Senegal, drivers encounter notable variations in regulations and practices that can significantly impact their journeys. From speed limits to lane usage and traffic signals, understanding these distinctions ensures a safer experience behind the wheel. Discover how these two countries prioritize road safety in their unique driving environments.
Lanes
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
senegal:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Signals
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Senegal |
| 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 | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
senegal:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
senegal:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
senegal:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
iceland:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Alcohol
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
senegal:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
senegal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
senegal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
senegal:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
senegal:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 17 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days