Driving Differences: Belgium vs. Kenya Explained
Exploring the unique road regulations between Belgium and Kenya reveals significant contrasts that are essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. From lane usage—where Belgians drive on the right and Kenyans on the left—to varying speed limits and traffic signal protocols, understanding these nuances is crucial for travelers navigating unfamiliar roads.
Lanes
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes, allow passing on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
belgium:
Right
kenya:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
kenya:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belgium:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
kenya:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
belgium:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
kenya:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Belgium | 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
belgium:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
belgium:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay