Driving in Finland vs. Kenya: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Finland and Kenya? Understanding their unique traffic regulations is crucial for a safe experience on the road. Notably, Finland drives on the right while Kenya favors the left. Variations in speed limits, lane use, and emergency protocols further differentiate these two countries, ensuring travelers are well-prepared for their adventures.
Lanes
| Finland | 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
finland:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
finland:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
finland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
finland:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
finland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
finland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
finland:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
finland:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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
finland:
30-40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
finland:
100-120 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
finland:
100 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
finland:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
finland:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
finland:
Electronic signs display current limits
kenya:
N/A
Signals
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
finland:
Not commonly used
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
finland:
Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
finland:
Triangular-shaped with a yellow background
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
finland:
Not generally allowed
kenya:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory for certain situations | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
finland:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
finland:
Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
finland:
Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
finland:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory for certain situations
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Finland | 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
finland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
finland:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
finland:
0.02%
kenya:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
finland:
Common; checkpoints used
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
finland:
Can be substantial
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
finland:
Results in license suspension
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Finland | 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
finland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
finland:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact through 112 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory, recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory, recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
finland:
112
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
finland:
Contact through 112
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
finland:
Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
finland:
Mandatory, recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Finland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines based on income | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, typically €85 | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, typically €100 | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; usually drive must pay later | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
Common Fines: Speeding
finland:
Varies; fines based on income
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
finland:
Fines apply, typically €85
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
finland:
Fines apply, typically €100
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
finland:
Fines apply
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
finland:
Possible; usually drive must pay later
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems