Driving in Kenya vs. South Korea: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Kenya and South Korea, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their experience. Key contrasts include driving sides, speed limits, and lane usage. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad, highlighting the importance of familiarizing oneself with local driving norms.
Lanes
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| 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 during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
kenya:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
south korea:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
south korea:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
south korea:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
south korea:
N/A
Signals
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
south korea:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Test Refusal
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
south korea:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
south korea:
Yes