7 Dangerous Mistakes Tourists Make While Driving in Iceland

Iceland is considered the safest and most peaceful country in the world according to the Global Peace Index published by the Institute for Economics and Peace. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t things that visitors to the country need to keep in mind when traveling around the country. Unfortunately, there are mistakes made by tourists each year that range from almost causing accidents to ones that end in fatalities. This episode is in no way meant to scare anyone who plans to rent a car here regardless of the season. In fact, I highly recommend renting a car. It’s an amazing way to see the country at your own pace and to potentially discover places that you might have missed if you were on a bus tour. I have partnered with Go Car Rental Iceland on this episode. We both value informing people about these mistakes so they can not only manage their expectations but also know what to look out for when on the road. If you’re planning a trip to Iceland, you can use my code Iceland10 when booking with Go Car Rental Iceland. You'll  save 10% on your entire booking. They are a local Icelandic rental car company based in Reykjavík that have excellent customer service, great rates, unlimited miles on their cars, and a large variety of vehicles to choose from. The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland Everything I need to know about renting car, driving, and get around Iceland Click Here 7 Dangerous Mistakes Tourists Make While Driving in Iceland 1. Stopping in the middle of the road to take photos One of the most dangerous mistakes that many tourists make during the summer in Iceland is stopping in the middle of the road to take photos. I know it sounds ridiculous to some people, but it happens a lot here. It’s often the case that people are not meaning to block the road but they get so stunned by the views that they legit stop their car to have a look. It can be that they’re staring at horses, mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, reindeer or even an arctic fox. Instead of immediately looking for a safe place to pull over, they just sit in the middle of a highway. Even worse they often get out of the car with their car still on the road. This has resulted in some accidents and far too many close calls. I totally understand seeing an amazing sight and wanting to stop to see it. I also understand that when you stop, it could be that no one is behind you at the time. However, if you are on a highway the possibility that another car or truck will come soon is highly likely. Please do yourself and everyone else a favor and find a safe place to pull over. You might even have to drive a little bit down the road to find an appropriate spot but it’s worth it. 2. Driving Off-road Image by Iceland Magazine Next up is driving off-road. This is not the same as pulling over to the side of the road or driving on a gravel road or driving on an F-road in the highlands. I am specifically talking about driving on land where there are no roads. Some places where tourists have done this is on black sand deserts and fields of lava rock covered in moss. There are two reasons doing this is dangerous. The first is that the flora in Iceland is fragile. Yes, it grows in an extreme climate but it takes a very long time for things to grow naturally here. There are ecosystems flourishing in these environments that most people are not aware of and driving on them can cause serious damage. In fact, moss in Iceland takes decades to grow back after it has been trampled or driven on. The second reason is that you might drive over a hidden rock or hole that causes you to ha...