Driving Differences: Costa Rica vs. Kenya
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and Kenya, understanding their unique traffic norms is crucial for ensuring a smooth journey. While Costa Rica drives on the right, Kenya adheres to the left. Key distinctions include speed limits, vehicle inspections, and lane usage, each vital for enhancing road safety in these diverse environments.
Lanes
| Costa rica | 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 | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | 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 | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
kenya:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Kenya |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | 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
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Costa rica | 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
costa rica:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
costa rica:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
costa rica:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems