Driving in the Dominican Republic vs. Kenya: Key Differences
When exploring the distinct driving cultures of the Dominican Republic and Kenya, safety and regulations take center stage. Key variations include driving on the right in the Dominican Republic versus the left in Kenya, contrasting speed limits, and differing approaches to road signage. Understanding these nuances is essential for a secure journey in either country.
Lanes
| Dominican republic | 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: Presence | Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often not marked. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
dominican republic:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
dominican republic:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
dominican republic:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
dominican republic:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Yes, mostly in the capital Santo Domingo
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Reserved for buses; some taxis may also use them.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
dominican republic:
Limited
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
dominican republic:
Shared with motorized two-wheelers in some areas.
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
dominican republic:
Often not marked.
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
dominican republic:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No; speed checks are done by police radar | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible for traffic infractions | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
dominican republic:
40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
dominican republic:
25 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
70 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
dominican republic:
70 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
dominican republic:
90 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
dominican republic:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
dominican republic:
No; speed checks are done by police radar
kenya:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
dominican republic:
Possible for traffic infractions
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Dominican Republic | Not used in Kenya |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used in many situations | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
dominican republic:
Not used in Dominican Republic
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Horn Usage: Allowed
dominican republic:
Commonly used in many situations
kenya:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Traffic Signs: Language
dominican republic:
Spanish; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited on major roads; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
dominican republic:
Not generally allowed unless indicated by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
dominican republic:
Prohibited on major roads; check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
dominican republic:
Yes, annual inspection required
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
dominican republic:
Displayed on the windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used more frequently than in some countries | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in traffic | 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: Limited
dominican republic:
Commonly used more frequently than in some countries
kenya:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
dominican republic:
Frequent use in traffic
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
dominican republic:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in arrest and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
dominican republic:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
dominican republic:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
dominican republic:
Less common; some checkpoints used in urban areas
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
dominican republic:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
dominican republic:
Results in arrest and license suspension
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Dominican republic | 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
dominican republic:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
dominican republic:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or designated local numbers | 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 | Required and recommended as a safety measure | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended for safety | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
dominican republic:
911
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
dominican republic:
911 or designated local numbers
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
dominican republic:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
dominican republic:
Required and recommended as a safety measure
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
dominican republic:
Recommended for safety
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Dominican republic | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines for non-compliance with signals | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible for common violations | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
dominican republic:
Varies; fines can be steep depending on the violation
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
dominican republic:
Mandatory use; fines for non-compliance
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
dominican republic:
Fines for using a phone while driving without hands-free devices
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
dominican republic:
Fines for non-compliance with signals
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
dominican republic:
Possible for common violations
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
dominican republic:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay