Driving in Kazakhstan vs. Kenya: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Kazakhstan and Kenya, motorists encounter distinct regulations and practices that can impact their journey. Notably, Kazakhstan drives on the right while Kenya opts for the left. Additionally, speed limits and overtaking rules vary significantly, making it essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with these driving nuances for a safer experience abroad.
Lanes
| Kazakhstan | 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. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with specific signs and road markings. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Varies by region | Yes, in some areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles where present. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kazakhstan:
Right
kenya:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
kazakhstan:
Yes
kenya:
No
Overtaking: On Right
kazakhstan:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kazakhstan:
Use rightmost lane.
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Yes
kenya:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Reserved for buses.
kenya:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Labeled with specific signs and road markings.
kenya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kazakhstan:
Varies by region
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kazakhstan:
Exclusive for bicycles where present.
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kazakhstan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kazakhstan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kazakhstan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
kazakhstan:
40-60 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kazakhstan:
20 km/h
kenya:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
80-90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
70-80 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kazakhstan:
110 km/h
kenya:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
kenya:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kazakhstan:
90 km/h
kenya:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kazakhstan:
N/A
kenya:
N/A
Signals
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kazakhstan | Not used in Kenya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kazakhstan:
Not used in Kazakhstan
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
Traffic Signs: Language
kazakhstan:
Kazakh and Russian; symbols are standard
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kazakhstan:
Triangular with red border
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed. |
Right Turn On Red
kazakhstan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
kenya:
Not allowed.
Documentation
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual vehicle inspection | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kazakhstan:
Accepted; International Driving Permit may be recommended
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kazakhstan:
Mandatory annual vehicle inspection
kenya:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use | 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
kazakhstan:
Moderate use
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kazakhstan:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in some areas | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
kenya:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
kenya:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kazakhstan:
0.00%
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
kazakhstan:
Common; checkpoints used in some areas
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Kazakhstan | 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
kazakhstan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kazakhstan:
Use for first exit or straight
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
Emergency Services
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 999 or 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 102 | 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
kazakhstan:
112
kenya:
999 or 112
Contact: Traffic Police
kazakhstan:
Call 102
kenya:
999 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kazakhstan:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kazakhstan:
Recommended
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-use | KES 500 to KES 2,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for handheld use while driving | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | KES 10,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems |
Common Fines: Speeding
kazakhstan:
Varies; can be up to several hundred USD equivalent
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines, potential imprisonment
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for non-use
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
kazakhstan:
Fines apply for handheld use while driving
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kazakhstan:
Substantial fines
kenya:
KES 10,000
Payment: On The Spot
kazakhstan:
Possible; fines can also be paid online or via banks
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems