Driving in Kenya vs Romania: Key Safety Differences
When venturing into new territories, understanding the nuances of road rules is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Kenya and Romania reveals stark contrasts: from driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits and unique traffic regulations. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate both landscapes with confidence.
Lanes
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
romania:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
romania:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
romania:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 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 | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
| 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
romania:
Moderate use expected
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
romania:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
romania:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
kenya:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist