Driving in Iceland vs. Sri Lanka: Key Differences Revealed
When driving abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for ensuring safety. This comparison highlights key distinctions between Iceland and Sri Lanka, from driving sides and speed limits to traffic signals and vehicle documentation. Discover how these countries differ in their approach to road use, enhancing your travel experience and awareness.
Lanes
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | Reserved for buses. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
sri lanka:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| 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 | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
sri lanka:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
iceland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| 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%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
sri lanka:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
iceland:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay