Road signs in Iceland
![](../I/m/Icelandic-Road-Sign.png)
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.
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
A series
- Curve to the right
- Curve to the left
- Double curve to the right
- Double curve to the left
- Crossroads with priority to the right
- Give Way / Yield
- Crossroads with a minor road
- Merging traffic from right
- Merging traffic from left
- Junction with a minor side road on right
- Junction with a minor side road on left
- Staggered junctions (first right, second left)
- Staggered junctions (first left, second right)
- Roundabout ahead
- Children
- Pedestrian on the road
- Pedestrian crossing ahead
- Horse rider
- Horses
- Domestic animals
- Sheep
- Wild animals
- Road narrows on both sides
- Road narrows on right
- Road narrows on left
- Roadworks ahead
- Gravel grader
- Cyclists
- Steep descent
- Steep ascent
- Uneven road ahead
- Road bump ahead
- Falling rocks or debris
- Falling rocks or debris
- Loose road surface
- Traffic signals ahead
- Low-flying aircraft
- Two-way traffic ahead
- Tunnel ahead
- Slippery road surface
- Ice
- Shoulder drop-off
- Soft verges or dangerous shoulder
- Dangerous crosswinds
- Unprotected quayside or riverbank
- Other danger
B series
- Road closed to all vehicles in both directions
- No entry for vehicular traffic
- No motor vehicles
- No motor vehicles except motorcycles
- No heavy goods vehicles
- No buses
- No vehicles carrying dangerous water pollutants
- No vehicles carrying dangerous goods
- No tractors
- No motorcycles
- No bicycles
- No pedestrians
- Minimum safe following distance between vehicles
- Maximum width
- Maximum vehicle length
- Maximum height
- Maximum weight
- Maximum weight per axle
- Stop
- No parking or waiting
- No parking zone
- No stopping
- Give way to oncoming traffic
- Maximum speed limit
- End of maximum speed limit
- Speed limit zone
- End of speed limit zone
- No right turn
- No left turn
- NO U-turns
- No overtaking
- No overtaking by heavy goods vehicles
- End of overtaking prohibition
- End of all restrictions
C series
- Turn right
- Turn left
- Proceed straight (no turns)
- Turn right ahead
- Turn left ahead
- Proceed straight or turn right
- Proceed straight or turn left
- Pass on right
- Pass on left
- Pass on either side
- Roundabout
- Bicycles only
- Pedestrians only
- Shared use path
- Equestrian path
D series
- Parking place
- Pedestrian crossing
- Priority road
- End of priority road
- Priority over oncoming vehicles
- One-way street
- One-way street
- No through road
- Bus stop
- Built-up Area Begins
- End of Built-up Area
- Residential area/Living street
- National speed limits
- Toll
E series
- First aid
- Hospital
- Pharmacy
- point of interest
F series
G series
- Lane ends