Crossing animalsIceland

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Iceland. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


8. Crossing animals

An animals-crossing warning indicates a place or road section where wild animals, livestock or ridden animals may enter or cross the road. Animals may appear suddenly, move unpredictably or be difficult to see in darkness, vegetation or poor weather.

Drivers should reduce speed, scan both sides of the road and remain prepared to stop. The warning sign does not itself give animals priority or impose a numerical speed limit, but drivers must avoid frightening, endangering or colliding with them.

Sheep-crossing warning sign. (Iceland)
Wikimedia.org • Christoph Strässler • CC BY-SA
Which animals might drivers encounter on roads in Iceland?

Watch for animals on or beside the road. Icelandic warning variants can depict horses, reindeer, birds, cattle, sheep or rabbits. Read the actual animal symbol, slow for the hazard and do not assume that the risk ends immediately after the sign.

🔗 reglugerd.is • Iceland: Regulation sign 146; Act sections 4,33,36

🔗 althingi.is • Iceland: Road Traffic Act 77/2019, edition 1 October 2026

Warning for cattle on the road. Warning for cattle on the road.

English • Traffic sign 146.4 • Animals. Particular care is needed because of animals on or beside the road. The symbol varies with the animals concerned, for example horses, reindeer, birds, cattle, sheep or rabbits.

Íslenska • Umferðarmerki 146.4 • Dýr. Merki þetta gefur til kynna að nauðsynlegt sé að sýna sérstaka aðgát vegna dýra á eða við veg. Merkið tekur breytingum eftir því hvaða dýrum varað er við. Á merkinu geta því t.d. verið hestar, hreindýr, fuglar, nautgripir, sauðfé eða kanínur.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Reglugerd.is • Reglugerð nr. 250/2024 • 8. gr.

SVG source: Gigillo83, drawn by original of Umferðastrofa • Public domain • Original revision 2013-01-01. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Does an animal-crossing warning sign in Iceland set a new speed limit?

A warning of animals is not, by itself, a numerical speed-limit sign. Continue to obey the applicable speed limit, but slow down whenever animals could enter the road or visibility is poor. A separate regulatory speed sign must also be obeyed.

🔗 reglugerd.is • Iceland: Regulation sign 146; Act sections 4,33,36

🔗 althingi.is • Iceland: Road Traffic Act 77/2019, edition 1 October 2026

What should you do if an animal enters the road in Iceland?

Brake as necessary while keeping control and checking the surrounding traffic. Avoid swerving into opposing traffic or off the road. Give livestock and ridden animals room, avoid unnecessary horn use, and watch for more animals following.

🔗 reglugerd.is • Iceland: Regulation sign 146; Act sections 4,33,36

🔗 althingi.is • Iceland: Road Traffic Act 77/2019, edition 1 October 2026

1 Iceland 2 Motorway 3 Speed limit 4 Bridge 5 Give way 6 Priority road 7 Overtaking 8 Crossing animals 9 Curve 10 Traffic lights 11 Driving licence 12 Reversing 13 Licence plate 14 Dangers 15 Blind summit 16 Bus 17 Police 18 Ambulance 19 European emission standard 20 Pothole 21 Path 22 Particulates 23 Air pollution 24 Rush hour 25 Road code 26 Street gutter 27 Cargo bike 28 Forestry vehicle 29 Construction vehicle 30 Semi-trailer truck 31 Trolleybus 32 Speed pedelec 33 Delivery vehicle 34 Idling 35 Tow truck 36 Four-wheel drive 37 Bicycle 38 Motorcycle equipment 39 Rail track 40 Caravan 41 Trailer 42 Tow hitch 43 Fire truck 44 Siren 45 Convoy 46 Emergency vehicle lighting 47 Agricultural machinery 48 Electric bicycle 49 Electric vehicle 50 Pedelec 51 Quadricycle 52 Microcar 53 All-terrain vehicle 54 Van 55 Recreational vehicle 56 Scooter 57 Trikke 58 Personal mobility device 59 Skateboard 60 Segway 61 Kick scooter 62 Roller skates 63 Mailman 64 Hitchhiker 65 Toddler 66 Child 67 Disability 68 Motorail 69 km/h 70 mph 71 Speedometer 72 Ride height 73 Dirt road 74 Driving 75 Start-stop system 76 Manual transmission 77 Automatic transmission 78 Throttle 79 Tachometer 80 Steering wheel 81 Power steering 82 Visual scanning 83 Mirror 84 Fuel 85 Fuel gauge 86 Petrol 87 Diesel 88 Diesel exhaust fluid 89 Car insurance 90 First aid kit 91 Fire extinguisher 92 High-visibility clothing 93 First aid 94 Concrete step barrier 95 Barriers 96 Vehicle lights 97 Street lights 98 Dipped beam 99 High beam 100 Fog lights ...