Driving

Traffic/Driving-Related Terms and Definitions

Yield

Overtake

Stop

Park

Road shoulder

Traffic-related Institutions and Roles

District Commissioner (Syslumaður) - issues driving permits.

Police (Logregla): protect law and order and public safety, prevent crime, assist people in danger, investigate traffic accidents.

Frumherji: conducts textual and practical driving exams.

Althingi: passes traffic laws.

Icelandic Transport Authority (ITA - Samgöngustofa): vehicle registration and ownership, driving lessons and tests, traffic education, traffic accident record, follow traffic issues abroad.

Icelandic Road and Coatsal Administration (IRCA - Vegagerðin): build or maintain highways and marking, provide weather and traffic hotline at 1777.

What vehicles can be driven with a B-license and Towing Rules

You can drive cars or vans with 8 passengers, and tow trailers as long as total weight does not exceed 3500kg.

Tractors, working machines, light motorcycles not exceeding 45km/h and 50cm3 engine, motor tri-bikes and quad bikes, off-road vehicles on off-roads.

When towing another car: using a strap or cable max speed is 30km/h, cables over 3m need yellow rag attached, hazard lights on both cars, check towing capacity.

Priorities

Buses: slow down or stop near bus stops to allow the bus driver to turn.

Crosswalks: at crosswalks yield to pedestrians.

Emergency Vehicles: give way to ambulances, police, etc.

Intersections: when turning at intersections yield priority to traffic coming at you like pedestrians crossing the street you turn towards.

Main roads: On main roads indicated by a diamond shaped sign, you have priority over traffic from side streets or roads.

Narrow Roads: person closer to narrowing drives first, e.g. at artificial narrowing to prevent speeding.

Obstacles: if something is blocking your side of the street yield to traffic coming from the opposite direction.

Right-hand Rule: In an open space or area with no traffic signs or lights yield cars from the right, if your right side is hit the fault is your and no insurance. Doesn’t apply to vehicles exiting parking lots, gas stations, walkways, or road shoulders.

Roundabouts

1. Wait before entering as traffic inside the roundabout has priority.

2. Inner lanes are for other exits and have priority over outer lanes which are for first exits.

3. Use the blinkers to signal which exit you are going to take.

Car Inspection

Regular inspections needed so vehicles are in good condition for traffic safety. New cars inspected after 4 years, after 2 years, after 2 years, then every year (4-2-2-1…).

On registration plates, last digit = last month of inspection, IK-277 in July, can bring car in 6 months before that if it is inspection year. Custom plates = May, unless ends in number. Owners of a car that isn’t checked within two months of the assigned date pay a negligence fine.

Cars with mods need to be examined, e.g. suspension, frame, wheel mods, or a simple tow hitch.

Driving Factors and Traffic Psychology

Vision and driving: 90% of information when driving is visual, our visual field seeing about 180° narrows as speed increases, and peripheral vision worsens.

Braking Distance

Stopping Distance

Speed blindness: poor perception of one’s own speed, seemingly driving slower.

Perception errors occur when brains misinterpret information from sensory organs like the eyes.