Driving Differences: El Salvador vs. Kenya
When navigating the roads of El Salvador and Kenya, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly influence their travel experiences. While El Salvador drives on the right and allows overtaking on the left, Kenya follows the left-hand side, creating unique driving dynamics. Understanding these key distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in both nations.
Lanes
| El salvador | 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 | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; 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
el salvador:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
el salvador:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
el salvador:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
el salvador:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
el salvador:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 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: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Kenya |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| 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
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
kenya:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
el salvador:
Spanish; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | 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 |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| El salvador | 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
el salvador:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
el salvador:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
el salvador:
911
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
el salvador:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay