Driving Differences: Kenya vs. Mexico Explained
When exploring the roads of Kenya and Mexico, travelers will encounter distinct regulations that shape their journey. From driving sides—left in Kenya and right in Mexico—to varying speed limits and lane usage, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure experience. Discover how these two nations differ in road etiquette and traffic laws for a safer adventure abroad.
Lanes
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
mexico:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
mexico:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
mexico:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
mexico:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
mexico:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in Mexico |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
mexico:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
mexico:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
mexico:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
mexico:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
mexico:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments