Neyðartilvik á vegi á Íslandi: Hvað á að gera

When Something Goes Wrong on an Icelandic Road

Iceland's emergency response system is efficient but distance-limited. In the capital area, an ambulance can reach you within 10-15 minutes. On the Ring Road near a town, response time is 30-60 minutes. In remote areas — the highlands, the East Fjords mountain passes, the Westfjords — response time can be 2-4 hours, and helicopter rescue may be the only option. Knowing what to do in the first minutes after an incident can be the difference between a manageable situation and a dangerous one.

Step 1: Secure the Scene

If your vehicle has stopped on or near the road — whether from a breakdown, accident, or weather:

• Turn on hazard lights immediately.
• If possible, move the vehicle completely off the road surface. Iceland's roads are narrow, and a vehicle stopped on the road in fog, snow, or darkness is an extreme collision risk.
• Place the warning triangle (legally required in every vehicle in Iceland) at least 50 metres behind the vehicle on the road. In limited visibility, place it further — 100 metres.
• All occupants should put on high-visibility vests before exiting the vehicle.
• If it is dark and cold, stay in the vehicle with the engine running for heat. Only exit if the vehicle is in a dangerous position (e.g., on a sharp curve or crest).

Step 2: Call 112

The emergency number in Iceland is 112 for all services (police, ambulance, fire, search and rescue). The dispatcher speaks English. Provide:

• Your location — road number, nearest kilometre marker (small yellow signs on the roadside), or GPS coordinates from your phone
• The nature of the emergency — accident with injuries, breakdown, vehicle off-road, medical emergency
• Number of people involved
• Current weather conditions at your location

The 112 Iceland app can send your GPS coordinates automatically, which is invaluable in areas where you cannot identify your location by landmarks.

Step 3: Specific Emergency Scenarios

Vehicle Off-Road (Into a Ditch or Field)

This is the most common incident. Do not attempt to drive out — spinning wheels on mud, snow, or volcanic soil typically makes the situation worse and can damage the vehicle. Call your rental company's roadside assistance number first. They will dispatch a tow truck. If you are in an area with no mobile signal, use the 112 app or wait for another vehicle to pass and ask them to call on your behalf.

Collision with Another Vehicle

Call 112 immediately if there are injuries. If there are no injuries and both vehicles are driveable, move them off the road and exchange information: name, phone number, license plate, rental company. Take photographs of all damage, the road conditions, and the location. Icelandic law requires you to report any accident with injury or significant damage to the police.

Collision with a Sheep or Horse

This is more common than most visitors realize. Icelandic sheep roam free across the countryside from May to September, and they cross roads unpredictably. Horses are sometimes on or near roads in rural areas. If you hit an animal:

• Stop and check if the animal is injured. If it is alive but injured, call 112 — they will dispatch someone to handle the animal.
• Notify the nearest farm. Sheep have ear tags identifying the owner. If you can identify the farm, go there directly.
• Report the incident to your rental company and, if there is vehicle damage, to the police.
• If the animal is dead, move it off the road if you safely can, to prevent further accidents.

Medical Emergency in a Remote Area

If someone needs urgent medical attention and you are far from a hospital, call 112. Iceland's Coast Guard helicopter (based at Reykjavík airport) can reach most of the country within 45-90 minutes. The dispatcher will talk you through first aid steps while help is on the way. Do not attempt to drive someone with a serious injury to a hospital if the drive would take more than 30 minutes — wait for the helicopter if available.

Key Emergency Contacts

• 112: All emergencies (police, ambulance, fire, SAR)
• 1777: Road conditions and weather information
• road.is: Current road status (web/app)
• vedur.is: Weather forecasts and warnings
• safetravel.is: Travel safety alerts