Driving Differences: Kenya vs. Kuwait Explained
When exploring the roads of Kenya and Kuwait, travelers must navigate distinct regulations and practices. Key contrasts include driving sides—left in Kenya and right in Kuwait—along with varied speed limits and overtaking rules. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Not commonly practiced. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
kuwait:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
kuwait:
Not commonly practiced.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
kuwait:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
kuwait:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
kuwait:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
kuwait:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
kuwait:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
kuwait:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
kuwait:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 45-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 45 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
kuwait:
45-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
kuwait:
45 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
kuwait:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
kuwait:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
kuwait:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
kuwait:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
kuwait:
N/A
Signals
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
kuwait:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
kuwait:
Arabic; English is commonly used alongside Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
kuwait:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless signs allow |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
kuwait:
Prohibited unless signs allow
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
kuwait:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
kuwait:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
kuwait:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
kuwait:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Less common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Significant fines and legal consequences |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
kuwait:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
kuwait:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
kuwait:
Less common
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
kuwait:
Significant fines and legal consequences
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kenya:
Possible for severe offenses
kuwait:
Possible for any alcohol consumption while driving
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or adjacent exits | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Exiting
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
kuwait:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
kuwait:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
kuwait:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
kuwait:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
kuwait:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
kuwait:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Kuwait | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; may include points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Very severe penalties for any alcohol |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes, possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
kuwait:
Varies; may include points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
kuwait:
Very severe penalties for any alcohol
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
kuwait:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
kuwait:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
kuwait:
Yes, possible
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
kuwait:
Varies; typically within 30 days