Driving in Kenya vs. Lithuania: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Kenya and Lithuania, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Kenya versus the right in Lithuania, varying speed limits, and differing protocols for emergency vehicles. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring a secure journey in either nation.
Lanes
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Separation of opposing traffic directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Passing permitted with caution. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; 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
lithuania:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
lithuania:
Separation of opposing traffic directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
kenya:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
lithuania:
Passing permitted with caution.
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
lithuania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
lithuania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
lithuania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
lithuania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
lithuania:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
lithuania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'A'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
lithuania:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
lithuania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
lithuania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, issued by police. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
lithuania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
lithuania:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
lithuania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
lithuania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
lithuania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
lithuania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
lithuania:
Yes, issued by police.
Signals
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Indicates prepared to start |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Lithuanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
lithuania:
Indicates prepared to start
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
lithuania:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
lithuania:
Lithuanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
lithuania:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
lithuania:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit not required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory annual check |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| 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
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit not required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
lithuania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
lithuania:
Mandatory annual check
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
lithuania:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
lithuania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Common practice |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
kenya:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
lithuania:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
lithuania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| 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, particularly at night and weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on BAC level |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in penalties and license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
lithuania:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
lithuania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
lithuania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
lithuania:
Common, particularly at night and weekends
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
lithuania:
Substantial; varies based on BAC level
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kenya:
Possible for severe offenses
lithuania:
Possible for high BAC levels or repeat offenses
Test Refusal
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
lithuania:
Results in penalties and license suspension
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
lithuania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
lithuania:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Contact your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
lithuania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
lithuania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
lithuania:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
lithuania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Lithuania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Mandatory, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines apply, use of hands-free device required |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes, by police |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
lithuania:
Varies; fines based on km/h over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
lithuania:
High fines, possible license suspension or imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
lithuania:
Mandatory, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
lithuania:
Fines apply, use of hands-free device required
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
lithuania:
Fines apply
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
lithuania:
Yes, by police