Crossing animalsIceland
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.
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.
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

Traffic rules
Iceland