Driving Differences: Jordan vs. Kenya Safety Guide
When it comes to navigating the roads of Jordan and Kenya, significant variations in traffic regulations and norms emerge. From the contrasting driving sides—right in Jordan and left in Kenya—to distinct speed limits and use of lanes, understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Explore the essential distinctions to enhance your road travel experience abroad.
Lanes
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the roadway. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads. | Yes, allow passing on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No specific bus lanes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses share lanes with other vehicles. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited; primarily in urban areas. | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with vehicular traffic. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Cycle symbols where applicable. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
jordan:
Right
kenya:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
jordan:
Marks the edge of the roadway.
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
jordan:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
jordan:
Allowed only on multi-lane urban roads.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
jordan:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
jordan:
No specific bus lanes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Buses share lanes with other vehicles.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
jordan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
jordan:
Limited; primarily in urban areas.
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
jordan:
Shared with vehicular traffic.
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
jordan:
Cycle symbols where applicable.
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
jordan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; common. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
jordan:
50-60 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
jordan:
40 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
jordan:
70-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
70-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
jordan:
100-120 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
jordan:
80-100 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
jordan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
jordan:
Yes; common.
kenya:
Yes
Signals
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not typically used | Not used in Kenya |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | To avoid accidents | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and English; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
jordan:
Not typically used
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Horn Usage: Allowed
jordan:
To avoid accidents
kenya:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
jordan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines may apply for misuse
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
jordan:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
jordan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
jordan:
Varies by location; check for signs
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspections required | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
jordan:
International Driving Permit recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
jordan:
International Driving Permit required
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
jordan:
Annual inspections required
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jordan:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use is common | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
jordan:
Moderate use is common
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
jordan:
Pull over and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Jordan | 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 at checkpoints | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
jordan:
0.05%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
jordan:
0.00%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
jordan:
Common at checkpoints
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
jordan:
Can be substantial
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Jordan | 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
jordan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
jordan:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
jordan:
911
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
jordan:
911
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
jordan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
jordan:
Recommended
kenya:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
jordan:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Jordan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be substantial | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, occasionally | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
jordan:
Varies; fines can be substantial
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Seat Belts
jordan:
Fines apply
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
jordan:
Fines apply
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
jordan:
Fines apply
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
jordan:
Yes, occasionally
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
Payment: Deadline
jordan:
Typically 30 days to pay
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay