Driving in Kenya vs Latvia: Key Safety Differences
Welcome to our comprehensive driving comparison between Kenya and Latvia. While both nations prioritize road safety, significant contrasts emerge, such as driving on opposite sides and differing speed limits. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey as you explore new territories. Dive in to discover more!
Lanes
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
latvia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
latvia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
latvia:
Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
latvia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
latvia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
latvia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
latvia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
latvia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
latvia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; fines are often issued immediately |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
latvia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
latvia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kenya:
No
latvia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
latvia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
latvia:
Common; fines are often issued immediately
Signals
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in Latvia |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Latvian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
latvia:
Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
kenya:
Signal when exiting
latvia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
latvia:
Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
latvia:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
latvia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
latvia:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
Documentation
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted, no International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Annual vehicle inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
latvia:
Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
latvia:
Annual vehicle inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
latvia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
kenya:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
latvia:
Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
latvia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| 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 | Common, especially on weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies based on BAC |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
latvia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
latvia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
latvia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
latvia:
Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
latvia:
Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
latvia:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
latvia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
latvia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | Varies; dial 112 for emergencies |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
latvia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
latvia:
Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
latvia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
latvia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Latvia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; €20 to €300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | €20 to €40, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | €10 to €30, fines vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | €30 to €70, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Common; fines can often be settled at the time |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
latvia:
Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
latvia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
latvia:
€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
latvia:
€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
latvia:
€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
latvia:
Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
latvia:
Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days