Driving in Iceland vs. Uganda: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road customs of Iceland and Uganda, distinct contrasts emerge that affect traveler safety. Key disparities include driving sides, with Iceland adhering to right-hand traffic while Uganda drives on the left. Additionally, speed limits and overtaking regulations vary significantly between these two nations, highlighting the importance of understanding local regulations for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
iceland:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
iceland:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
iceland:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
uganda:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
uganda:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
uganda:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
uganda:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
iceland:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
iceland:
Yes
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Uganda |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
uganda:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
uganda:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
uganda:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
iceland:
Annual inspection required
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
uganda:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
uganda:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
uganda:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
uganda:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
iceland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket