Icelandic law requires that a vehicle’s headlights must be continuously on when the vehicle is being driven, regardless of the time of the day or the season of the year;
The drivers and passengers are required by law to fasten and buckle up their seat belts;
Children must either be in child seats or have their seatbelts fastened, depending on their size and height;
Using your mobile phone while driving is permitted only with headphones or a hands-free kit;
Off-road driving is strictly forbidden and may result in severe penalties.
It is very common to encounter sheep, horses or cows on or in the vicinity of the road. In the event of a collision with any of these animals, the driver will be held responsible;
Roads with an “F” sign are mountain routes that are only opened during the summer season for 4×4 vehicles. They quite often require a river crossing;
On roundabouts, the inner lane ALWAYS has priority over the outer lane;
On the bridge with a single lane of traffic, there is a rule of priority for the vehicle which is closer to that bridge;
Blind hills, where the lanes are not separated, require particular precaution and adjustment of speed;
Gravel paths are often very narrow and have “loose” roadsides;
Blue squared signs with white markings are suggested speed signs. They are used in areas considered to be dangerous due to limited visibility;
Driving under the influence of alcohol and other intoxicating substances is prohibited in a strict manner and is subject to heavy penalties.
During the summer, days are quite long , but despite this, excessive driving should be avoided;
The beauty of the Icelandic landscape should be admired from dedicated spots. The roads and their roadsides are not suitable nor appropriate places for photography sessions;
Speed cameras and radar speed checks are widely used, fines for exceeding the speed limit can reach amounts of 650 EUR;
Weather conditions can change very quickly. This sometimes results in the closure of whole roads or sections of roads. For information about alerts and the current weather situation, you should visit “road.is” or “vedur.is” websites;