Driving in Cambodia vs. Kenya: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Cambodia and Kenya, it's essential to be aware of their distinct driving norms and regulations. Key differences include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol consumption limits, which can significantly impact your travel experience. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey in both countries.
Lanes
| Cambodia | 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some areas |
Driving Side
cambodia:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
cambodia:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
cambodia:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
cambodia:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Speeds Limits
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
cambodia:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
cambodia:
90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
cambodia:
70 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
cambodia:
90 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Signals
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Khmer and English; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
cambodia:
N/A
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies, check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended but not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
kenya:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use as means of communication | 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
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
cambodia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Strict and substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
cambodia:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Cambodia | 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
cambodia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
cambodia:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
cambodia:
119
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
cambodia:
117
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
kenya:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Cambodia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; penalties applied | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; penalties applied | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, on the spot payment | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a specified period | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay