Road signs in Iceland

A sign displaying the location of scattered farms and homesteads in a rural area of Iceland

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
Minimum space between motor vehicles
Vehicles carrying dangerous goods prohibited entry
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]
Entrance to area
Exit from area
Maximum speeds
Traffic enforcement cameras

Service signs

First aid station
Hospital
Police office
Pharmacy
Emergency shelter
Emergency phone
Fire extinguisher
Information
Information booth
Public telephone
Public lavatory
Outhouse
Water tank discharge
Town centre
Industrial place
Vacation houses^[7]
Place of interest (indoors)^[7]
Point of interest
Hiking trail
Picnic site
Viewpoint
Viewpoint with information
Rubbish bin
Rubbish container
Radio station/FM Frequency
Petrol station
Repair shop
Tyre repair
Cars rental
Refreshments shop
Restaurants shop
Restaurant in private home
Hotel
Hostel (sleeping bags only)
Youth hostel
Rental cabin
Refuge hut
Campsite
Caravan park
Cooking facilities
Shower
Hot tub
Washing machine
Meeting facilities
Internet access
Swimming pool
Recreation centre
Sports field
Horse hire^[7]
Horse track^[7]
Horse stables^[7]
Horsecart rental^[7]
Fishing
Ocean fishing
Whale watching
Ski lift
Ski lift with chair
Cross-country ski area
Snowcat trips
Golf course
Shooting range^[7]
Snowmobile rental
Water scooter rental
Bike rental
Boat rental
Water skiing
River rafting
Church
Cemetery
ATM
Bank
Post office
Tourist shop
Supermarket
Bakery
Food kiosk
Handicrafts
Greenhouse
Ice cream shop
Art gallery
Library
Aquarium
Livestock animals park
Dog hotel
Veterinarian
Music performance^[7]
Ferry
Boat trips
Commercial harbour^[7]
Fishing harbour^[7]
Airport
Airstrip

Route and direction signs

Route direction
Route direction without number
Turn off (a) in capital area
Turn off (b) out capital area
Turn off to place of interest, airport, harbour, public building or other place of service
Notice of destination ahead
Exit lane marking (a) in capital area
Exit lane (b) in capital area
Destination ahead (a) with distances in capital area
Destination ahead (b) with distances in capital area
Primary traffic routes
Destination ahead and map (a) in capital area
Destination ahead and map (b) in capital area
Lane direction sign
Destination ahead with route numbers (b) out capital area
Place direction^[7]
Place name (e.g. a river)^[7]
Street or road name
House numbers
Road number
Road number (approach)
unnumbered road^[7]
Abandoned farm^[7]
County or municipal boundary sign^[7]
Beginning of the municipality
Destination and distance (urban area)^[7]
Destination and distance (rural area)^[7]
Information signs
Information of bike path
Information on bike path^[7]

Direction signs

Reduction of available lanes (option 1)
Reduction of available lanes (option 2)
Approach Lane merges right
Use of lanes at an intersection
Lane markings
Use of lanes (option 1)
Use of lanes (option 2)
Sign showing number of lanes on road to be entered
Deriction signs
Direction signs
Direction signs
Direction signs
Direction signs

Temporary signs

Devication notice

Additional signs

When the "road condition" begins
On left
On right
On both sides
Extented
Extended indication on the left
Extrnded indication on the right
Extent of prohibition area^[7]
Duration (timing) of prohibition^[7]
Parking time limit^[8]
Parking places, parallel to road^[7]
Parking places, perpendicular to road^[7]
Parking places, angled^[7]
Distance
Handicapped parking^[8]
Arrow left
Turn left
Turn right
Arrow direction
Arrow right
Course of priority road at intersection^[7]
Course of the main road
Course of the main road
Caution, Blind people^[8]
Caution, Deaf people^[8]
Weight limit^[8]
Tow zone^[8]
New road surface^[8]
Unbridged river crossing^[8]
Slow road: Driving is difficult but not impossible for non-4×4 cars^[8]
Difficult road: 4×4 car required (these and "TORLEIÐI" are typically preceded with an F, e.g. F35)^[8]
Mountain road: Extremely difficult terrain, even in 4×4s^[8]
Blind hill^[8]
Blind hills^[8]
Area with higher accident risk^[8]
One-lane road^[8]
Start of gravel road, slow to 80 km/h (for the best conditions, vary by weather)
One-lane bridge^[8]
One-lane tunnel
Stop ahead^[8]
One-lane bridge (with length)^[8]
Street running^[8]