Driving in Kenya vs. Lebanon: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the driving landscape in Kenya and Lebanon reveals distinct contrasts that are crucial for safe travels. While Kenya drives on the left, Lebanon favors the right. Speed limits, lane regulations, and horn usage differ significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding these unique road customs for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as a separation line in some areas. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| 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
lebanon:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
lebanon:
Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
kenya:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lebanon:
Used as a separation line in some areas.
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
lebanon:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
lebanon:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
lebanon:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
lebanon:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
lebanon:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
lebanon:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
lebanon:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
lebanon:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
lebanon:
N/A
Signals
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in Lebanon |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; 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
lebanon:
Not used in Lebanon
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
kenya:
Signal when exiting
lebanon:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lebanon:
Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
lebanon:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
lebanon:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
Turns
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, annual inspection required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lebanon:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
lebanon:
Yes, annual inspection required
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
lebanon:
Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lebanon:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common through checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial for violations |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
lebanon:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
lebanon:
Common through checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
lebanon:
Substantial for violations
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when preparing to enter |
| 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: Entering
kenya:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
lebanon:
Signal when preparing to enter
Signaling: Exiting
kenya:
Signal left when preparing to exit
lebanon:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
lebanon:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Varies; consult your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
lebanon:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
lebanon:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
lebanon:
Varies; consult your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lebanon:
Not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Lebanon | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; may lead to substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Fines and potential incarceration |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Possible; often paid at stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Usually within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
lebanon:
Varies; may lead to substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
lebanon:
Fines and potential incarceration
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
lebanon:
Mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
lebanon:
Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
lebanon:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
lebanon:
Possible; often paid at stations
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
lebanon:
Usually within 15-30 days