This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Check up-to-date status; signs are neither named nor explained. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2018)
Road signs in Iceland are visual communication devices placed along roads and
highways throughout the country to provide information, warnings, and guidance to motorists and pedestrians. Iceland never ratified the
Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but road signs in
Iceland conform to the general pattern of those used in most other
European countries, with certain design elements borrowed from
Danish and
Swedish practice. Signs tend to be more sparsely employed than in other European countries, especially in
rural areas.
Most road signs in Iceland are not
retroreflective, making them harder to see at night.
Design
Distances and other measurements are displayed in
metric units. All text within the main signs and on auxiliary signs is exclusively in
Icelandic with very few exceptions.
Colours and shapes
Icelandic road signs most closely resemble their
Swedish counterparts, with rounded corners and yellow backgrounds. However, there are many differences in detail, especially in the
silhouettes used.
Shape and colour are used to indicate the function of signs:
Type of sign
Shape
Border
Background colour
Text/Symbol
Warning
Triangular
Red
Yellow
Black
Prohibition
Circular
Red
Yellow
Black
Mandatory instructions
Circular
White
Blue
White
Supplementary
Rectangular
White Red
Blue Yellow
White Black
Directions, sometimes
Rectangular
Black
Yellow
Black
Information
Rectangular
White
Blue
White
Typeface
A version of the
Transport typeface employed on road signs in the
UK – modified to include accented characters and the
Icelandic letters ð (
eth) and þ (
thorn) – is used on Icelandic road signs.
Gallery
The original legal source for these are the Icelandic Transport Authority,[1] first ratified in article 289/1995[2] and subsequently amended in 2019 by 365/2019[3] and 548/2019.[4]
Warning signs
Curve to right
Curve to left
Double curve first to right
Double curve first to left
Dangerous intersection
Yield
Crossroad intersection with priority
Skewed side junction on right with priority
Skewed side junction on left with priority
Side road junction on right with priority
Side road junction on left with priority
Offset road junction left right with priority
Offset road junction right left with priority
Detour ahead
School zone
Pedestrians
Zebra crossing
Equestrian
Watch for (large) animals horses
Watch for (large) animals cattle
Watch for (large) animals sheep
Watch for (large) animals reindeer
Bike crossing
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on right hand side
Road narrows on left hand side
Workers ahead
Steep descent
Steep ascent
Bumpy road
Bump
Risk of fallen objects or avalanche
Risk of fallen objects or avalanche
Loose gravel
Traffic lights
Low-flying aircraft
Two-way traffic
Tunnel ahead
Slippery road when wet
Dangerous verges
Soft road verges
Crosswinds
Riverbank ahead
Be carefull
Road grading
Risk of ice on road
Prohibitory signs
Closed to all vehicles
Prohibited entry
All motor vehicles prohibited entry
Cars prohibited entry
Trucks prohibited entry
Buses prohibited entry
Tractors prohibited entry
Motorbikes prohibited entry
Mopeds prohibited entry
Snowmobiles prohibited entry
Bikes prohibited entry
Equestrian prohibited entry
Pedestrians prohibited entry
Width limit
Length limit
Height limit
Total weight limit
Total weight limit of combination
Axle weight limit
Mandatory stop
Stop for checkpoint
Prohibited parking
Beginning of zone with parking restrictions
End of zone with parking restrictions
Prohibited stopping
Yield to oncoming traffic
Maximum speed limit in kilometres/hour
End of maximum speed limit
Beginning of zone with special speed limit
End of zone with special speed limit
Right turn prohibited
Left turn prohibited
U-turn prohibited
Overtaking prohibited
Overtaking by trucks prohibited
End of prohibition on overtaking
End of prohibition on overtaking by trucks
National speed limit on roads is 60 mph and for dual carriageway from motorway the speed limit is 60 mph
Transport of water-polluting substances prohibited entry
Mandatory signs
Turn right
Turn left
Go straight
Turn right
Turn left
U-turn
Turn right or straight
Turn left or straight
Turn left or right
Keep right
Keep left
Pass either on side
Detour
Bikes only
Pedestrian path
Bikes and pedestrians only
Separate lanes for pedestrians and bikes
Path for riders
Information signs
Parking zone
Covered parking zone
Reserved parking place for handicapped vehicle
Reserved parking place for specific vehicle used by handicapped person
Parking zone for buses
Parking zone for trucks
Parking zone for cars
Parking zone with charging station for electric cars
Parking zone for carvans
Parking zone for ambulances
Parking zone for bikes
Parking zone for motorbikes
Crosswalk
Main road
End of main road
Priority over approaching traffic
Place for allowing oncoming traffic to pass
One-way traffic
One-way traffic
Dead end
Taxi rank
Buses stop
Buses terminal
Handicapped
Urban area
End of urban area
Residential area
End of residential area
Pedestrian underpass to the right
Pedestrian underpass to the left
Pedestrian overpass to the right
Pedestrian overpass to the left
Place for putting snow-chains on tyres
Expressway
Place for turning on right - Signs indicating large vehicles may be turned around, e.g. in tunnel. Further information is provided on an additional sign below.[5]
Place for turning on left - Signs indicating large vehicles may be turned around, e.g. in tunnel. Further information is provided on an additional sign below.[6]
This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Check up-to-date status; signs are neither named nor explained. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(May 2018)
Road signs in Iceland are visual communication devices placed along roads and
highways throughout the country to provide information, warnings, and guidance to motorists and pedestrians. Iceland never ratified the
Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, but road signs in
Iceland conform to the general pattern of those used in most other
European countries, with certain design elements borrowed from
Danish and
Swedish practice. Signs tend to be more sparsely employed than in other European countries, especially in
rural areas.
Most road signs in Iceland are not
retroreflective, making them harder to see at night.
Design
Distances and other measurements are displayed in
metric units. All text within the main signs and on auxiliary signs is exclusively in
Icelandic with very few exceptions.
Colours and shapes
Icelandic road signs most closely resemble their
Swedish counterparts, with rounded corners and yellow backgrounds. However, there are many differences in detail, especially in the
silhouettes used.
Shape and colour are used to indicate the function of signs:
Type of sign
Shape
Border
Background colour
Text/Symbol
Warning
Triangular
Red
Yellow
Black
Prohibition
Circular
Red
Yellow
Black
Mandatory instructions
Circular
White
Blue
White
Supplementary
Rectangular
White Red
Blue Yellow
White Black
Directions, sometimes
Rectangular
Black
Yellow
Black
Information
Rectangular
White
Blue
White
Typeface
A version of the
Transport typeface employed on road signs in the
UK – modified to include accented characters and the
Icelandic letters ð (
eth) and þ (
thorn) – is used on Icelandic road signs.
Gallery
The original legal source for these are the Icelandic Transport Authority,[1] first ratified in article 289/1995[2] and subsequently amended in 2019 by 365/2019[3] and 548/2019.[4]
Warning signs
Curve to right
Curve to left
Double curve first to right
Double curve first to left
Dangerous intersection
Yield
Crossroad intersection with priority
Skewed side junction on right with priority
Skewed side junction on left with priority
Side road junction on right with priority
Side road junction on left with priority
Offset road junction left right with priority
Offset road junction right left with priority
Detour ahead
School zone
Pedestrians
Zebra crossing
Equestrian
Watch for (large) animals horses
Watch for (large) animals cattle
Watch for (large) animals sheep
Watch for (large) animals reindeer
Bike crossing
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on right hand side
Road narrows on left hand side
Workers ahead
Steep descent
Steep ascent
Bumpy road
Bump
Risk of fallen objects or avalanche
Risk of fallen objects or avalanche
Loose gravel
Traffic lights
Low-flying aircraft
Two-way traffic
Tunnel ahead
Slippery road when wet
Dangerous verges
Soft road verges
Crosswinds
Riverbank ahead
Be carefull
Road grading
Risk of ice on road
Prohibitory signs
Closed to all vehicles
Prohibited entry
All motor vehicles prohibited entry
Cars prohibited entry
Trucks prohibited entry
Buses prohibited entry
Tractors prohibited entry
Motorbikes prohibited entry
Mopeds prohibited entry
Snowmobiles prohibited entry
Bikes prohibited entry
Equestrian prohibited entry
Pedestrians prohibited entry
Width limit
Length limit
Height limit
Total weight limit
Total weight limit of combination
Axle weight limit
Mandatory stop
Stop for checkpoint
Prohibited parking
Beginning of zone with parking restrictions
End of zone with parking restrictions
Prohibited stopping
Yield to oncoming traffic
Maximum speed limit in kilometres/hour
End of maximum speed limit
Beginning of zone with special speed limit
End of zone with special speed limit
Right turn prohibited
Left turn prohibited
U-turn prohibited
Overtaking prohibited
Overtaking by trucks prohibited
End of prohibition on overtaking
End of prohibition on overtaking by trucks
National speed limit on roads is 60 mph and for dual carriageway from motorway the speed limit is 60 mph
Transport of water-polluting substances prohibited entry
Mandatory signs
Turn right
Turn left
Go straight
Turn right
Turn left
U-turn
Turn right or straight
Turn left or straight
Turn left or right
Keep right
Keep left
Pass either on side
Detour
Bikes only
Pedestrian path
Bikes and pedestrians only
Separate lanes for pedestrians and bikes
Path for riders
Information signs
Parking zone
Covered parking zone
Reserved parking place for handicapped vehicle
Reserved parking place for specific vehicle used by handicapped person
Parking zone for buses
Parking zone for trucks
Parking zone for cars
Parking zone with charging station for electric cars
Parking zone for carvans
Parking zone for ambulances
Parking zone for bikes
Parking zone for motorbikes
Crosswalk
Main road
End of main road
Priority over approaching traffic
Place for allowing oncoming traffic to pass
One-way traffic
One-way traffic
Dead end
Taxi rank
Buses stop
Buses terminal
Handicapped
Urban area
End of urban area
Residential area
End of residential area
Pedestrian underpass to the right
Pedestrian underpass to the left
Pedestrian overpass to the right
Pedestrian overpass to the left
Place for putting snow-chains on tyres
Expressway
Place for turning on right - Signs indicating large vehicles may be turned around, e.g. in tunnel. Further information is provided on an additional sign below.[5]
Place for turning on left - Signs indicating large vehicles may be turned around, e.g. in tunnel. Further information is provided on an additional sign below.[6]