Iceland review - 2014, Qupperneq 85

ICELAND REVIEW 83
Keeping Safe
Iceland is generally not considered a dangerous country to visit, but
Mother Nature is always eager to show you who is boss, and the
reckless have been known to pay with their lives. Luckily it doesn’t
take much effort to stay safe.
The best place to start is on the website SafeTravel.is where you’ll
see all the latest updates on the country’s visitor sites and trails. If
there’s heavy icing, a mudslide, an earthquake, avalanche risk or a
sandstorm, this is where you’ll find out. SafeTravel.is is also
where you log your intended itinerary so rescuers know
where to look if anything goes wrong. It’s really impor-
tant to let someone know where you are going in the countryside
or at sea, how to contact you, and when you expect to reach your
destination.
You’ll be pleased to know there’s also an app for Android, Win-
dows and iPhone. On the app you can regularly log your GPS posi-
tion directly into a confidential system which will only be accessed if
rescuers need to go out and find you. The app can also be used to
place an emergency call, which also sends your GPS position. Down-
load it now by searching ‘112 Iceland App’.
If you get in any trouble in Iceland—town or country—
the emergency number for all services is 112. It’s a good
idea to memorize it if it’s different in your home country.
Don’t forget to register your travel plans even if you plan to
stay on-road, as travel conditions can deteriorate rapidly—espe-
cially in winter. If you see a barrier across the right-half of the
road, it means it’s closed. Most signs are in English too, but it
is still good to know the meaning of Lokað (closed) and Ófært
(impassable).
Check weather (en.vedur.is) and road conditions (vegagerdin.
is/English) before you set off—and remember: if you’re in doubt
out-and-about, call the emergency services ONE ONE TWO.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. And don’t be scared of the cost: it’s
always free of charge. We want you out of here alive!
When exploring spectacular Iceland, SafeTravel is your essential traveling companion.
around iceland
national emergency number 1-1-2