Each summer Landsbjörg, the all-volunteer Iceland Search and Rescue, respond to nearly a hundred distress calls from travelers who have gotten stuck attempting to cross unbridged rivers. These accidents involve hundreds of travelers, mostly foreigners, although some include Icelandic drivers. While accidents during failed river crossings are nearly always extremely costly to the travelers in question, serious accidents, bodily harm or fatal accidents are fortunately very rare.
No rental car insurance covers water damage caused by failed river crossings. The most common problems involve the vehicles stalling due to the engine being flooded.
A tragic accident on Friday, when a young American woman who was on her honeymoon drowned during a failed river crossing, has sparked a lively discussion in Iceland about what can be done to make unbridged rivers and F-roads safer. The F stands for Fjallvegur, or mountain road. Many F-roads are no more than rough trails, suitable only for modified trucks.
Previously: Woman who drowned in Steinholtsá river was US citizen, on honeymoon with her husband
A spokesman for ICE-SAR told the National Broadcasting Service that more could be done to instruct and educate foreign travelers on the challenges and dangers of crossing unbridged rivers. He points out that the road signs at unbridged rivers are decades old, and have not been updated after the onset of tourism. Foreign travelers who are unfamiliar with Icelandic conditions don't necessarily understand the warning signs.
For example, it makes no difference whether the river is twenty centimeters deep, or a meter, the signs posted contain the same instructions. Many of the signs on these roads simply state that they are only suitable for cars with a four wheel drive.
A four wheel drive is not enough, he points out, as many smaller passenger vehicles are equipped with a four wheel drive. Driving most F-roads and crossing unbridged rivers requires at least a full-sized SUV. Many unbridged rivers require modified trucks, or trucks with a snorkel to avoid the engine flooding.
Read more: Ask the expert: How to cross those unbridged rivers in the Central Highlands?
Each summer Landsbjörg, the all-volunteer Iceland Search and Rescue, respond to nearly a hundred distress calls from travelers who have gotten stuck attempting to cross unbridged rivers. These accidents involve hundreds of travelers, mostly foreigners, although some include Icelandic drivers. While accidents during failed river crossings are nearly always extremely costly to the travelers in question, serious accidents, bodily harm or fatal accidents are fortunately very rare.
No rental car insurance covers water damage caused by failed river crossings. The most common problems involve the vehicles stalling due to the engine being flooded.
A tragic accident on Friday, when a young American woman who was on her honeymoon drowned during a failed river crossing, has sparked a lively discussion in Iceland about what can be done to make unbridged rivers and F-roads safer. The F stands for Fjallvegur, or mountain road. Many F-roads are no more than rough trails, suitable only for modified trucks.
Previously: Woman who drowned in Steinholtsá river was US citizen, on honeymoon with her husband
A spokesman for ICE-SAR told the National Broadcasting Service that more could be done to instruct and educate foreign travelers on the challenges and dangers of crossing unbridged rivers. He points out that the road signs at unbridged rivers are decades old, and have not been updated after the onset of tourism. Foreign travelers who are unfamiliar with Icelandic conditions don't necessarily understand the warning signs.
For example, it makes no difference whether the river is twenty centimeters deep, or a meter, the signs posted contain the same instructions. Many of the signs on these roads simply state that they are only suitable for cars with a four wheel drive.
A four wheel drive is not enough, he points out, as many smaller passenger vehicles are equipped with a four wheel drive. Driving most F-roads and crossing unbridged rivers requires at least a full-sized SUV. Many unbridged rivers require modified trucks, or trucks with a snorkel to avoid the engine flooding.
Read more: Ask the expert: How to cross those unbridged rivers in the Central Highlands?
