Driving in Italy vs. Kenya: Key Differences Explained
Discover the diverse rules of the road as we compare driving in Italy and Kenya. From lane usage and speed limits to signaling and emergency protocols, each country presents unique challenges and practices. Understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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
italy:
Right
kenya:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
kenya:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
italy:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
italy:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
italy:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
italy:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
italy:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
italy:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
kenya:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Italian; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Italy | 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
italy:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Italy | 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
italy:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
italy:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay