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.

icelandswitzerland

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	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:

switzerland:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

switzerland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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