Driving in Israel vs. Kenya: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the diverse road regulations between Israel and Kenya reveals significant contrasts in vehicular norms and safety measures. From driving on different sides of the road to varying speed limits and signaling protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad. Stay informed and drive safely in your international travels!
Lanes
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that 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
israel:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
israel:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
israel:
Prohibited except for special circumstances like overtaking a vehicle that is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
israel:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
israel:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
israel:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
israel:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
israel:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 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
israel:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
israel:
100-120 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
israel:
100 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
israel:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
israel:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
israel:
Electronic signs display current limits
kenya:
N/A
Signals
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used before green light. | Not used in Kenya |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
israel:
Used before green light.
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
israel:
Unnecessary use prohibited; local ordinances apply
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
israel:
Hebrew, Arabic, English; symbols are international
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
israel:
Triangular-shaped with red border
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a sign permits | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
israel:
Prohibited unless a sign permits
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
israel:
Varies; check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof may be required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory but recommended | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
israel:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Not mandatory but recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
israel:
Moderate use compared to some countries
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
israel:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.01% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, varies depending on offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
israel:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
israel:
0.01%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
israel:
0.01%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
israel:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
israel:
Substantial fines, varies depending on offense
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Israel | 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
israel:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
israel:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Check local numbers | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
israel:
100
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
israel:
Check local numbers
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
israel:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
israel:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Israel | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, points on license | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines issued, points possible | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines issued, usually high, points on license | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines issued, points on license | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
Common Fines: Speeding
israel:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
israel:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
israel:
Fines issued, points possible
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
israel:
Fines issued, usually high, points on license
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
israel:
Fines issued, points on license
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
israel:
Possible in some cases; usually paid online or by mail
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems