Driving in Iceland vs Tunisia: Key Safety Differences

Driving in Iceland and Tunisia presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should understand. Key takeaways include differing rules on overtaking, speed limits, and emergency contacts. Familiarizing yourself with these variations ensures a safer journey, allowing you to navigate roadways with confidence in either country.

Lanes

	Iceland	Tunisia
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Not typically permitted.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Exclusive for bicycles.	N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	N/A

Overtaking: On Right

iceland:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

tunisia:

Not typically permitted.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

tunisia:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

tunisia:

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

tunisia:

N/A

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

tunisia:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

tunisia:

Cycle Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Exclusive for bicycles.

tunisia:

N/A

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

tunisia:

N/A

Speeds Limits

	Iceland	Tunisia
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	90 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

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

tunisia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

tunisia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

tunisia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

tunisia:

110 km/h

Signals

	Iceland	Tunisia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not typically used
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	Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

tunisia:

Not typically used

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

tunisia:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

tunisia:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

tunisia:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

tunisia:

Arabic and French; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

tunisia:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

	Iceland	Tunisia
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed	Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed	Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs	Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

tunisia:

Prohibited

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

tunisia:

Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted

Documentation

	Iceland	Tunisia
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

tunisia:

Mandatory; proof may be required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

tunisia:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

tunisia:

Not mandatory

Road Etiquette

	Iceland	Tunisia
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging	Common practice, especially in heavy traffic	Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries	Moderate use

Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging

iceland:

Common practice, especially in heavy traffic

tunisia:

Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

iceland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

tunisia:

Moderate use

Alcohol

	Iceland	Tunisia
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% - zero tolerance	0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

tunisia:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

tunisia:

0.00%; zero tolerance policy

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

tunisia:

Common; checkpoints used broadly

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

tunisia:

Substantial; varies by offense

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

tunisia:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

	Iceland	Tunisia
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

tunisia:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

tunisia:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

	Iceland	Tunisia
Contact: General Emergency	112	197
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	197
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: General Emergency

iceland:

112

tunisia:

197

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

tunisia:

197

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

tunisia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

iceland:

Mandatory

tunisia:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

tunisia:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

	Iceland	Tunisia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Yes
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

tunisia:

Varies; DT 40 to DT 500

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

tunisia:

DT 40

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

tunisia:

DT 60

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

tunisia:

Varies; DT 60 to DT 200

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

tunisia:

Yes

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

tunisia:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay