Driving in Iceland

Key rules, regulations and things to know

Driving: Drive on the right and overtake on the left.

Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on gravel country roads and 90 km/h is the limit on hard-surfaced roads.

Seat Belts: Are obligatory for all passengers

Headlights: Must be used when driving

Mobile Phones: It is illegal to using a mobile phone whilst driving. Don't risk using one as you can receive a heavy fine in most countries and more important cause a serious accident.

Warning / Emergency Equipment: Vehicles should have a warning triangle. Becauce of the terrain it might be good sense to also have areflective jacket and first aid kit.

Drink and driving: Blood alcohol limit is 0.05. The police have power to heavily enforce drink driving legislation More information Here This is a very low limit, equivalent to one glass of wine so do not drink and drive

According to the Visit Iceland website below - Most mountain roads and roads in the interior of Iceland have a gravel surface. The surface on the gravel roads is often loose, especially along the sides of the roads, so one should drive carefully and slow down whenever approaching an oncoming car.

The mountain roads are also often very narrow and are not made for speeding. Driving off roads or marked tracks isn't allowed in Iceland.

Winter Tyres must be used from November 1st to April 15th

Disabled Parking: The Blue Badge is recognised in all European countries - More information Here

Felag Islenzkra Bifreidaeigenda - (FIB)- To enter the site, click on the image above left

Part Source: Visit Iceland

Warning in The Independent's Question Of Cash Saturday 13th June 2015 about hiring a car in Iceland and the risk of damage by Volcanic Ash - More Here

Capital: Reykjavik

Telephone Country Code: + 354

15th June 2016 - Iceland has strengthened its road signs in order to stop tourists stealing them to take home as novel souvenirs. The most popular signs to be stolen are the sort rarely found in other countries, specifically those marking fords that cross rivers, blind rises and gravel tracks, according to Iceland's RUV national broadcaster. Viktor Arnar Ingolfsson of the Road and Coastal Administration says they are now "using bolts that can't be dismantled with an ordinary car toolkit", and making the signs too heavy to carry off easily.

Mr Ingolfsson, who is also a noted crime novelist, designed some of the signs. He said that the international Vienna Road Traffic Agreement "simply doesn't provide for our topography", and this makes unique Icelandic signs particularly appealing to memento-hunters. "It's the way they look. For example, in English you just have the word 'ford'. But we also have a picture of a car driving into water, which is more easily understood,".

At one time Icelandic signs only used words, causing confusion for international visitors. He recalled that 30 years ago some German film-makers put "blind rise" signs up on roads in the north to let drivers know they were filming there, because they thought the word simply meant "warning". Source Riviera Radio Daily News

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easyJet has launched a new route to Iceland - November 2011

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, announced on 9th November, that it will operate a new route from London Luton Airport to Reykjavik in Iceland. The inaugural flight will take off from London Luton Airport on 27 March 2012 operating three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

easyJet’s pledge is to make travel easy and affordable, and this new route will help boost business and leisure travel to and from Iceland. Flights to Reykjavik will go on sale on 10 November 2011 with seats starting from as little as £32.99 for a one way ticket and £58.81 for a return fare (inc.taxes).

easyJet flights will land at Keflavik International Airport in Iceland’s capital Reykjavik. Set against a backdrop of snow-topped mountains, Reykjavik is known for its weekend nightlife, health spas, world-class restaurants and countless museums.

Iceland is also famous for its natural wonderland of spouting geysers, gigantic glaciers, blue lagoons and hot springs - as well as benefitting from an impressive 22 hours of daylight a day during summer. Source: easyjet & London Luton Airport

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