miodus Posted August 10, 2018 #1 Share Posted August 10, 2018 We want to rent a car but will end up driving in the dark on Highway 1 near Reykjavik. How is the driving in the dark? Are the roads well marked? Visibility? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaisatsu Posted August 10, 2018 #2 Share Posted August 10, 2018 (edited) How far from Reykjavik? You can get some idea of the road by looking at Google street view. For example, this is about 10km from the city center: https://goo.gl/maps/tdbp78X4BZS2 If you are traveling further from the capital, the road has more curves and hills, so long-range visibility starts to drop. You'll also encounter several single lane bridges, so read up on the road etiquette for handling them. Much of the road is not externally lit, and there is little no shoulder area, but the lane markings and signage are generally quite clear. Edited August 10, 2018 by kaisatsu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitemare Posted August 11, 2018 #3 Share Posted August 11, 2018 There are good reflectors at the side of the road, pretty much on every road. Check out the beginning of this video, or the part that starts around 1:10 in: What time of year are you there and what time of day? There are no street lights and very few guardrails, so it's important that the driver is very alert and not siteseeing as there are severe dropoffs from the road along most of it's length, to allow snow to blow off of the surface Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wassup4565 Posted August 13, 2018 #4 Share Posted August 13, 2018 We were there for four days in June/18 driving Route 1 near Reykjavik. The road is asphalt in excellent condition, one lane each way, paint lines well-marked, narrow lanes and also narrow shoulders, with a sharp drop off of several feet beyond the shoulders. Drivers are polite and follow the rules. Visibility depends on the weather. If there is rain driven by wind, it will be difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DipBrat Posted August 13, 2018 #5 Share Posted August 13, 2018 It basically never got dark when I was there. I suppose it could be difficult if you are not used to rural driving but just reduce your speed and you should be fine. Highbeams are your friend. Generally I find rural driving easier in some ways at night as you will see the other cars coming very clearly with headlights so you can hug the middle almost everywhere expect a completely blind curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljandgb Posted August 13, 2018 #6 Share Posted August 13, 2018 Good point. Depending on when you go, the total amount of real darkness may be very low. There will be a long dusk/dawn, where headlights should be used, but that's not the same as dark. For the OP, I'm assuming you'll be there with a cruise, so sometime May-September? Anything outside of those months is winter, and the dark is not the issue, but the weather can be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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