Driving in Belize vs. Kenya: Essential Safety Insights
Discover the unique road regulations and practices in Belize and Kenya, two countries with distinct driving cultures. Key distinctions include the driving side—right in Belize and left in Kenya—and stark variations in speed limits and lane usage. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, allow passing on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
belize:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
belize:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belize:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
belize:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belize:
No
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
belize:
N/A
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belize:
N/A
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belize:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-55 mph | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 55-65 mph | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 55-65 mph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 55-65 mph | 80 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines are usually collected immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belize:
25 mph
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belize:
25 mph
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
40-55 mph
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belize:
40-55 mph
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
40-55 mph
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belize:
55-65 mph
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belize:
55-65 mph
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belize:
55-65 mph
kenya:
80 km/h
Speed Units
belize:
mph
kenya:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belize:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
belize:
No
kenya:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belize:
Yes, fines are usually collected immediately
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Belize | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belize:
Not used in Belize
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
belize:
English; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
belize:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
belize:
Varies by locality; check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annually; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belize:
Mandatory annually; proof may be required
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belize:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory
kenya:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Belize | 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
belize:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used occasionally | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: Underage Drivers
belize:
Zero tolerance
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
belize:
Less common; checkpoints used occasionally
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Belize | 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
belize:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
belize:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
belize:
911
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
belize:
911
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belize:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
belize:
Not mandatory, but recommended
kenya:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Belize | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; BZD$100 to $500 | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for non-compliance | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for use without hands-free | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; significant fines | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, fines are often collected immediately | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
Common Fines: Speeding
belize:
Varies; BZD$100 to $500
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belize:
Fines for non-compliance
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
belize:
Fines for use without hands-free
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belize:
Varies; significant fines
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
belize:
Yes, fines are often collected immediately
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems