Is Iceland road trip dangerous?

Driving in Iceland in winter is actually very dangerous, so you should pay attention to these aspects when you go to Iceland again. Also notes on a road trip to Iceland. Choose a friend on a self-driving tour to take a look.

Self-driving in Iceland in winter

For travelers who are experienced in snow driving and have a long driving experience, self-driving in winter will bring the greatest freedom when they are familiar with the terrain of Iceland. However, from a safety perspective, Iceland is more likely to experience extreme weather in February. Visibility in rain and snow is almost zero, the road surface is slippery, and there may even be road closures. If you are taking children or the elderly on a family trip to Iceland, it is not recommended to travel by car.

Tips: 1. Choose self-driving travelers. Before departing from the hotel every day, please remember to check real-time traffic conditions at any time and adjust your travel plan. 2. The route between the South Bank and the Golden Circle is relatively less dangerous. The road to the Ice Lake is likely to be windy and slippery. 3. The road conditions on the western Mount Sinai Peninsula are also feasible and suitable for in-depth travelers.

Recommended: 0 (Iceland’s road conditions are very dangerous in winter)

Only heavy-duty transport vehicles dare to go on the road in winter, and they may die accidentally.

In Iceland’s winter, some roads are even closed to vehicles. (Pictures from the Internet)

Form: Travel the entire journey on your own, rent a car locally and drive yourself.

Suitable for people: experienced drivers with many years of experience and a certain understanding of Icelandic road conditions.

Advantages: You can choose the place and time to chase the light.

Disadvantages: Iceland’s winter weather and road conditions make self-driving very unsafe. Only heavy-duty transport vehicles or professionally qualified drivers can go on the road; non-stop driving is very tiring; and the price is high and minor scratches You will have to bear the huge cost of repairing the car.

Tip:

Don’t go on a road trip in winter without familiarity with Iceland’s road conditions and experience. Only heavy-duty transport locomotives dare to hit the road in winter! The roads in Iceland are slippery and dangerous in winter, and aurora appears in the dark night. There are many heavy transport vehicles, so driving to see the aurora is actually a very, very dangerous choice.

Note on self-driving in Iceland

Q: Are the roads in Iceland easy to drive?

Answer: The road conditions are better in summer than in winter. Not all roads in Iceland are asphalt, but most are gravel roads. Additionally, Iceland has many mountains, fjords, winding roads and slopes. Although most of the slopes are not steep, no matter what season you go, it is still recommended to use an SUV. If you rent a car from October to April of the following year, the vehicle requirements will be relatively high. Of course, drivers should pay more attention to safe driving. When encountering rain, snow and clouds that appear from time to time in mountainous fjords, be sure to slow down, turn on the fog lights, and keep a distance between the front and rear vehicles.

Note: Most vehicles use snow tires in winter.

Q: What should I pay attention to when driving in Iceland?

Answer: 1. Everyone in the vehicle, please fasten your seat belts.

2. The maximum speed limit in urban areas is 100 kilometers per hour, on suburban gravel roads it is 80 kilometers per hour, and on asphalt roads it is 90 kilometers per hour. In case of ice and snow, the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h. Pay attention to speed limit signs along the way and slow down for road conditions at all times.

3. Along the way, you encounter pasture horses, cows, horses and other livestock crossing the road. Don't honk, slow down, and if necessary, stop and let them go first.

4. In addition to urban areas, there are many one-sided bridges in the suburbs of Iceland. Only one vehicle can pass at a time, so be sure to slow down and check for vehicles on the other side. If so, let the other car go first.

5. In order to protect the natural environment such as Iceland and grow together with normal vegetation, Icelandic law strictly prohibits vehicles from driving on roads other than roads.

6. Driving habits such as drunk driving, drunk driving, and talking on the phone while driving are strictly prohibited.

There are two gas stations in Iceland, one is the green N1 and the other is the red Olkan. N1 has its own gas card, and Orkan can use a credit card, but the kind that requires a PIN (full-currency international chip credit card).

Orkan Gas Station: It is best to prepare a full-currency credit card with a chip (commonly known as a full-currency international chip credit card). Generally, MC and VISA cards cannot be used to pay for gas.

N1 gas station: It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a full-currency international chip credit card. You can buy N1 recharge cards manually at the counter of N1 gas station. Generally, you can top up 3000 to 5000 ISK and then use it at a gas station. It is not recommended to buy too many cards at once, as this card can only be used at gas stations of the same brand.

Note: After leaving the city in Iceland, there are not many gas stations, especially in the remote north, which are often dozens of kilometers apart. Moreover, some gas stations only open at 10 o'clock and get off work very early. Try to fill up the gas station during the day. (Usually refuel once every two days, fill it up, and drive in remote places. If the fuel tank is more than half full, pay attention to refueling along the way to prevent any unexpected situations on the road. If there is not enough fuel, it will be very troublesome.

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