Driving in Norway vs. Spain: Key Safety Differences
Discover the essential contrasts between driving in Norway and Spain to ensure safe travels. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol regulations and traffic signals, each country presents unique rules. While Norway emphasizes strict adherence to safety, Spain offers a different approach, making it crucial for travelers to familiarize themselves with these distinctions before hitting the road.
Lanes
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not standard in Norway. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. | Prohibited unless on a one-way street. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | Minimum two or three occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
spain:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
spain:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
spain:
Prohibited unless on a one-way street.
Bus Lanes: Usage
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
spain:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
spain:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
spain:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, commonly used |
Urban Areas: Standard
norway:
30-50 km/h
spain:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
norway:
30 km/h
spain:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
norway:
80 km/h
spain:
80-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
spain:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
norway:
90-110 km/h
spain:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
norway:
90-100 km/h
spain:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
norway:
80 km/h
spain:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
norway:
Yes
spain:
Yes, commonly used
Signals
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Norway | Not used in Spain |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Triangular with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
norway:
Not used in Norway
spain:
Not used in Spain
Traffic Signs: Language
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
spain:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
spain:
Triangular with white background and red border
Turns
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs. |
Right Turn On Red
norway:
Not allowed
spain:
Prohibited unless a sign indicates otherwise
U- Turns Allowed
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
spain:
Generally prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs.
Documentation
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with a national driving license | Accepted; must carry license. |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | None | Displayed on windshield in some areas. |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory. |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory. |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
spain:
Accepted; must carry license.
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
spain:
International Driving Permit recommended in conjunction with national license.
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
spain:
Yes, periodic inspections required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
norway:
None
spain:
Displayed on windshield in some areas.
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
norway:
Mandatory
spain:
Mandatory.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory.
Road Etiquette
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Used more frequently in urgent situations |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
norway:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
spain:
Used more frequently in urgent situations
Alcohol
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | High fines and possible license revocation | Severe penalties, including high fines |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in heavy fines and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
norway:
0.02%
spain:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
norway:
0.02%
spain:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
norway:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
spain:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
spain:
Severe penalties, including high fines
Test Refusal
norway:
Can result in license suspension
spain:
Can result in heavy fines and license suspension
Emergency Services
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 02800 | Check with local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NAF | Contact your insurance provider or RACE |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
norway:
02800
spain:
Check with local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
spain:
Contact your insurance provider or RACE
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
norway:
Recommended
spain:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Norway | Spain | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license | Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Severe fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | 1500 NOK | €200, mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | 1700 NOK | €200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | €200, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, typically required | Yes; discount if paid promptly. |
Common Fines: Speeding
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
spain:
Varies; typically €100 to €600, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
spain:
Severe fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
norway:
1500 NOK
spain:
€200, mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
norway:
1700 NOK
spain:
€200, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
spain:
€200, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
norway:
Yes, typically required
spain:
Yes; discount if paid promptly.