Driving Differences: Kenya vs. Saudi Arabia Explained
Discover the unique road regulations and practices in Kenya and Saudi Arabia that impact your travel experience. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol restrictions and emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safety while driving abroad. Dive into the details to navigate each country confidently!
Lanes
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
saudi arabia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
saudi arabia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
saudi arabia:
Use rightmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
Documentation
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use for communication on the road |
| 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
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
saudi arabia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
kenya:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
saudi arabia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
saudi arabia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer