Driving in Estonia vs. Kenya: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Estonia and Kenya, drivers will encounter distinct practices that impact their experiences. Key contrasts include driving sides—right in Estonia and left in Kenya—as well as varying speed limits and traffic regulations. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Estonia | 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: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
estonia:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
estonia:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
estonia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
estonia:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
estonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
estonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
estonia:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
kenya:
N/A
Signals
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
kenya:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
estonia:
Displayed on the windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
estonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
estonia:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Estonia | 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
estonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
estonia:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
estonia:
112
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay