Driving in Bolivia vs Kenya: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Bolivia and Kenya, drivers encounter notable contrasts in regulations and practices. From lane usage—where Bolivia drives on the right and Kenya on the left—to varying speed limits and alcohol tolerances, understanding these distinctions is crucial for a safe journey. Stay informed to enhance your travel experience and ensure road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Bolivia | 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 | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bolivia:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
bolivia:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bolivia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bolivia:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bolivia:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
bolivia:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bolivia:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bolivia:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No, not commonly used | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bolivia:
40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bolivia:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
70-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bolivia:
90-100 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bolivia:
80-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bolivia:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bolivia:
No, not commonly used
kenya:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bolivia:
Yes, fines can be issued immediately
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bolivia | Not used in Kenya |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Only to avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bolivia:
Not used in Bolivia
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Horn Usage: Allowed
bolivia:
Only to avoid accidents
kenya:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bolivia:
Unnecessary usage discouraged especially in urban areas
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
bolivia:
Spanish
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bolivia:
Triangular-shaped with red borders
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
bolivia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
bolivia:
Not allowed in major urban centers; check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted with an International Driving Permit | 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: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bolivia:
Accepted with an International Driving Permit
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bolivia:
International Driving Permit required
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bolivia:
Displayed on the windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
bolivia:
Frequent use compared to some countries
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bolivia:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints often used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies, can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bolivia:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bolivia:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bolivia:
0.02%; zero tolerance in some areas
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
bolivia:
Common; checkpoints often used
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
bolivia:
Varies, can be substantial
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Bolivia | 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
bolivia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
bolivia:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bolivia:
911
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
bolivia:
110
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bolivia:
Check with your insurance provider; some offer this service
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bolivia:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bolivia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may result in points on license | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines may apply, varies by location | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply and points on license | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bolivia:
Varies; may result in points on license
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bolivia:
Fines apply
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
bolivia:
Fines may apply, varies by location
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bolivia:
Fines apply and points on license
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
bolivia:
Fines can be issued immediately and must be paid
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
bolivia:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay