Driving in Iceland vs Switzerland: Key Differences Explained
Explore the distinct driving environments of Iceland and Switzerland, two beautiful nations with unique road regulations. This comparison highlights vital contrasts, such as speed limits and lane markings, essential for ensuring safe travels. Understanding these variations can enhance your driving experience and bolster safety while navigating abroad.
Lanes
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| 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. |
| 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.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
switzerland:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 80 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 | 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
iceland:
50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
switzerland:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Prepare to go |
| 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 | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
switzerland:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
switzerland:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
switzerland:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| 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 | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Alcohol
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
switzerland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
iceland:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
switzerland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | CHF 100 |
| 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 | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| 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
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay