Driving in Bahrain vs. Kenya: Key Safety Differences
Bahrain and Kenya present intriguing contrasts in their road regulations and motoring customs. Understanding these variations—from driving sides and speed limits to the protocols for emergency vehicles—ensures a safer journey. Whether navigating through urban areas or rural landscapes, recognizing these distinctions is vital for a secure and enjoyable travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads. | Yes, allow passing on the right. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses during peak hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, but limited. | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Primarily on designated routes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and white lines. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahrain:
Right
kenya:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bahrain:
Indicates separation, no crossing unless during emergencies.
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
bahrain:
Typically used to indicate a turning lane or lane merging.
kenya:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
bahrain:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahrain:
Generally not allowed unless in multi-lane roads.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
bahrain:
List length: 4
kenya:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahrain:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahrain:
Yes, but limited.
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahrain:
Primarily on designated routes.
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahrain:
Bicycle symbols and white lines.
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahrain:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahrain:
30-40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahrain:
100-120 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahrain:
100 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahrain:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahrain:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bahrain:
Yes, both on-the-spot and mailed fines
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bahrain | Not used in Kenya |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Used as a signal of road rage or aggression | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahrain:
Not used in Bahrain
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bahrain:
Signal when entering and exiting
kenya:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bahrain:
Unnecessary use discouraged in residential areas
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
bahrain:
Fines for misuse
kenya:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
bahrain:
To warn other drivers of your presence
kenya:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
bahrain:
Used as a signal of road rage or aggression
kenya:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
bahrain:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bahrain:
Triangular with a red border
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bahrain:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
bahrain:
Permitted unless no U-turn sign is present
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit often required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspections mandatory | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahrain:
International Driving Permit often required
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahrain:
International Driving Permit required
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahrain:
Annual vehicle inspections mandatory
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate horn use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bahrain:
Moderate horn use compared to some countries
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahrain:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Zero Tolerance: Drugs | Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol | Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during nighttime | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal actions | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahrain:
0.00%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Zero Tolerance: Drugs
bahrain:
Zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol
kenya:
Zero tolerance for driving under the influence of drugs
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahrain:
Common, especially during nighttime
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bahrain:
Substantial; both fines and imprisonment possible
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
bahrain:
Can result in license suspension and legal actions
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit or adjacent exits |
Signaling: Exiting
bahrain:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
bahrain:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, but not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, but not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bahrain:
999
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
bahrain:
999
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahrain:
Contact your insurance provider
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahrain:
Recommended, but not mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bahrain | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Heavy fines, possible license points | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahrain:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahrain:
High fines, possible imprisonment
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahrain:
Fines for non-compliance
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahrain:
Fines applicable for using mobile phones while driving
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahrain:
Heavy fines, possible license points
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
bahrain:
Possible; fines can also be paid online
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
bahrain:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay