Driving in Iceland vs. Tanzania: Key Differences Revealed
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Iceland and Tanzania. From driving sides to speed limits, this comparison highlights essential distinctions that can significantly impact your journey. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring your security and enjoying seamless travels in these unique nations.
Lanes
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes |
| 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
tanzania:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Signals
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Tanzania |
| 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 | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
tanzania:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
tanzania:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
tanzania:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
tanzania:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required annually |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tanzania:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
tanzania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Common |
| 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
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay