Kindur á vegum á Íslandi: Akstursoryggi

The Most Unpredictable Hazard on Icelandic Roads Has Four Legs

Every year between May and September, approximately 800,000 sheep roam freely across Iceland's countryside, mountains, and — inevitably — roads. They graze on roadside verges, sleep on warm tarmac, and cross roads with absolutely no regard for traffic. Sheep-vehicle collisions are one of the most common types of rural driving accidents in Iceland, and they cause significant damage to both vehicles and animals.

A sheep weighs 60-90 kg. At 80 km/h, the impact is roughly equivalent to dropping a washing machine on your bonnet from a second-storey window. It will destroy your bumper, potentially crack your radiator, and in some cases deploy the airbags. It will also likely kill the sheep — and under Icelandic law, you are responsible for reporting the incident and the farmer may claim compensation.

When and Where Sheep Are on Roads

Sheep are on unfenced roads from approximately late May to mid-September. During the annual roundup (réttir), usually in September, farmers on horseback gather sheep from the highlands and bring them through valleys and across roads — creating large, slow-moving flocks on narrow roads.

Sheep are most commonly encountered on:

• The Ring Road through rural areas (especially between Blönduós and Akureyri, and the East Fjords)
• Any road without fencing — which is most rural roads
• Roads near farms, particularly in the early morning and late evening when sheep are most active

How to Avoid Sheep Collisions

• Slow down in sheep country. If you see sheep near the road, reduce speed to 50-60 km/h immediately.
• Where there is one sheep, there are more. Sheep travel in groups. If one crosses the road, expect 3-10 more to follow unpredictably.
• Lambs follow their mothers — across the road. A ewe on one side of the road with a lamb on the other side will result in one of them bolting across. Slow down and wait for them to reunite.
• Do not honk. Car horns panic sheep and make their behaviour more unpredictable, not less. Slow down and wait patiently.
• Be especially cautious at dawn and dusk. Sheep are most active at these times, and reduced visibility makes them harder to spot.

What to Do If You Hit a Sheep

Stop immediately. Check the animal's condition. If it is alive and injured, call 112 — emergency services will contact the farmer or dispatch someone to handle the animal. If the sheep is dead, move it off the road if you can. Note the ear tag number — it identifies the owner. Report the incident to your rental company and, if there is significant vehicle damage, to the police (112). Under Icelandic law, the farmer owns the sheep and may claim compensation for the animal's value.