Driving Differences: Kenya vs. Tunisia Explained
When navigating the roads of Kenya and Tunisia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their travel experiences. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits, understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure journey. This guide highlights crucial driving nuances to enhance your safety and awareness while abroad.
Lanes
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Not typically permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | N/A |
| 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: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
tunisia:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
tunisia:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Signals
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
| 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
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
kenya:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
tunisia:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
kenya:
0.00%; zero tolerance
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tunisia:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
tunisia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
kenya:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay