Driving Differences: Iceland vs Kenya for Safe Travels
Exploring the contrasts between Iceland and Kenya reveals fascinating variations in road regulations that significantly impact travel safety. From driving on different sides of the road to unique speed limits and signaling practices, understanding these distinctions is essential for a secure journey abroad. Stay informed and drive safely no matter where you are!
Lanes
| Iceland | 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. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; 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
iceland:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
iceland:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
iceland:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
iceland:
List length: 4
kenya:
List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
iceland:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
iceland:
Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
iceland:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
iceland:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
iceland:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h on gravel roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h on paved roads | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
iceland:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
80 km/h on gravel roads
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h on paved roads
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
iceland:
80 km/h on paved roads
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
iceland:
90 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
iceland:
90 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
iceland:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Signals
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | N/A | Not used in Kenya |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | N/A | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | N/A | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Icelandic; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
iceland:
N/A
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
kenya:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties
iceland:
N/A
kenya:
Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage
iceland:
N/A
kenya:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
iceland:
Icelandic; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
iceland:
Triangular with red borders
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
iceland:
Not allowed
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
iceland:
Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
iceland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
iceland:
Displayed on the windshield
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Iceland | 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
iceland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial penalties can apply | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fine | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
iceland:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
iceland:
0.02%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
iceland:
0.00% - zero tolerance
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
iceland:
Common
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
iceland:
Substantial penalties can apply
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
iceland:
Can result in license suspension and fine
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal 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: Entering
iceland:
Signal when entering and exiting
kenya:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
iceland:
Signal when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
iceland:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | National Police number 112 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact local towing services or insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
iceland:
112
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
iceland:
National Police number 112
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
iceland:
Contact local towing services or insurance provider
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
iceland:
Not mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Iceland | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines if found using without hands-free | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
iceland:
Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
iceland:
Mandatory; fines apply
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
iceland:
Fines if found using without hands-free
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
iceland:
Fines and points on license
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
iceland:
Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
iceland:
Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay