Driving in Brazil vs. Kenya: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique aspects of road travel in Brazil and Kenya through our comprehensive comparison. While both nations share similarities in lane usage and speed regulations, notable contrasts arise in driving sides, alcohol limits, and emergency protocols. This guide aims to enhance your awareness and ensure a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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 exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Signals
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | 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
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | 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
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
brazil:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay