Driving in Kenya vs. Turkey: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Kenya and Turkey, drivers encounter stark contrasts in regulations and practices. From differing driving sides—left in Kenya and right in Turkey—to unique speed limits and lane usage, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe travel. Equip yourself with this essential knowledge for a safer journey abroad.
Lanes
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, allow passing on the right. | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if 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 with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
turkey:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
turkey:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
turkey:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
turkey:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
turkey:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
turkey:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kenya:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 120 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
turkey:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
kenya:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
kenya:
Yes
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
kenya:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
kenya:
Annual inspection required
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
| 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
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
turkey:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
kenya:
0.08%
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
turkey:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
kenya:
Can result in license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
turkey:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
turkey:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
kenya:
Not mandatory, but recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
kenya:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
kenya:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges