Speed limits / 01
50 / 80 / 90, and 50 on bridges
50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on rural gravel roads, 90 km/h on rural paved roads unless signed otherwise — and 50 km/h across any single-lane bridge, regardless of the road's normal limit.
One-lane bridges / 02
The near car has right of way
Iceland has many single-lane bridges, on and off Route 1. The car closer to the bridge has right of way, but slow down and read the other driver's intent before committing — don't assume the rule alone keeps you safe at speed.
F-roads / 03
Illegal in a 2WD, and mostly summer-only
Roads marked F or 4x4 require a genuine 4WD vehicle by law — a 2WD on an F-road voids rental insurance and is a real legal violation, not just a bad idea. Most F-roads only open in summer once snowmelt clears them.
Wind / 04
Postpone above roughly 25 m/s
Check Veður.is by road segment before each leg. Icelandic guidance suggests postponing a drive if forecast wind on that stretch exceeds about 25 m/s — strong enough to genuinely push a car or fling open a door into damage.
Checklist / 05
Five checks, every morning
Road status
road.is for closures on today's specific route, not just a general overview.
Wind and weather
Veður.is, by road segment if today's leg is exposed.
Fuel
Top up before any leg with a known gap over 80 km.
Offline map
Download today's route in case of a dead zone.
Plan sanity check
Does today's plan still make sense given the above? Adjust before you leave, not mid-drive.