Driving in Kenya vs. Libya: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the driving landscapes of Kenya and Libya reveals distinct regulations and practices that can significantly impact road safety. Notably, Kenya drives on the left, while Libya favors the right. Additionally, speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol tolerance diverge, making it essential for travelers to familiarize themselves with these unique rules to ensure a secure journey.
Lanes
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the separation between directions on some roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Not commonly designated. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Not commonly designated. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
libya:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
libya:
Marks the separation between directions on some roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
kenya:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
libya:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
libya:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
libya:
Generally not allowed except when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
libya:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
libya:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
libya:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
libya:
Not commonly designated.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
libya:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
libya:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Generally not used. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
libya:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
libya:
70 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
libya:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
libya:
Generally not used.
Signals
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in Libya |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Arabic |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
kenya:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
libya:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
libya:
Not used in Libya
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
libya:
Arabic
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
libya:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Generally not allowed unless specified |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
libya:
Generally not allowed unless specified
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
libya:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Required for registration and periodically thereafter |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
libya:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
libya:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
libya:
Required for registration and periodically thereafter
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
libya:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Possible; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
libya:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
libya:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
libya:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
libya:
Possible; checkpoints used in some areas
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
libya:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
libya:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 193 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | Varies by area |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
libya:
193
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
libya:
Varies by area
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
libya:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
libya:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
libya:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Libya | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; fines based on severity |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines may apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
libya:
Varies; fines based on severity
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
libya:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
libya:
Fines may apply
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
libya:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
libya:
Varies; typically required within 30 days