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:

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, first ratified in article 289/1995 and subsequently amended in 2019 by 365/2019 and 548/2019.

Warning signs

Prohibitory signs

Mandatory signs

Information signs

Service signs

Route and direction signs

Directional signs within the urban Capital Region of Iceland (including Reykjavík and its surrounding areas) have a blue on white design. Outside the Capital Region, signs are generally black on yellow.

Direction signs

Temporary signs

Additional signs

Old signs

Traffic lights