Driving in Egypt vs. Kuwait: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the driving landscapes of Egypt and Kuwait, notable distinctions emerge that can significantly impact your journey. From lane usage and speed limits to traffic signals and penalties, each country presents unique rules and customs. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a safe and smooth driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Right
egypt:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
kuwait:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
kuwait:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
egypt:
40-60 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
kuwait:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
kuwait:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
kuwait:
Yes
Signals
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
kuwait:
Not used
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
kuwait:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
kuwait:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
kuwait:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
kuwait:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
kuwait:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
kuwait:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
kuwait:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
kuwait:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
kuwait:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
kuwait:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
kuwait:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
kuwait:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Conducted frequently | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
egypt:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
kuwait:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 112 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
egypt:
122
kuwait:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
kuwait:
112
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
egypt:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Yes, possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days