Driving in Kenya vs. North Macedonia: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving practices of Kenya and North Macedonia in our comprehensive comparison. From lane usage and speed limits to road etiquette and alcohol regulations, this guide highlights essential distinctions that impact travel safety. Whether navigating left-side roads in Kenya or adhering to stricter speed limits in North Macedonia, awareness of these nuances is crucial for a secure journey.
Lanes
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Not typically allowed in North Macedonia. |
| 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 with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and marked paths. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
north macedonia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
north macedonia:
Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
north macedonia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
north macedonia:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
north macedonia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
north macedonia:
Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
north macedonia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
north macedonia:
Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
north macedonia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
north macedonia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
north macedonia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
north macedonia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
north macedonia:
N/A
Signals
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Prepare to go |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Prohibited in urban areas at night |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not to be used to signal other messages | Not to signal other messages |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Macedonian; standard symbols |
| 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
north macedonia:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
north macedonia:
Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
north macedonia:
Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage
kenya:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
north macedonia:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
kenya:
Not to be used to signal other messages
north macedonia:
Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
north macedonia:
Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
north macedonia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited unless specified by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed when not prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
north macedonia:
Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
north macedonia:
Allowed when not prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
north macedonia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
north macedonia:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Common practice
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
north macedonia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Conducted at checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
north macedonia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
north macedonia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
north macedonia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
north macedonia:
Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
north macedonia:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
north macedonia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
north macedonia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Contact local service providers |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
north macedonia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
north macedonia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
north macedonia:
Contact local service providers
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
north macedonia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | North macedonia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | 50 EUR |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | 40 EUR |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | 250 EUR, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes, often required |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
north macedonia:
Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
north macedonia:
50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
north macedonia:
40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
north macedonia:
250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
north macedonia:
Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
north macedonia:
Varies; typically within 15 days to pay