Driving Differences: Kenya vs Venezuela Explained
Traveling between Kenya and Venezuela reveals striking contrasts in road regulations and driving practices. From the side of the road you navigate to speed limits and lane usage, understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring safety on unfamiliar streets. Prepare yourself with this comprehensive guide to driving in these two diverse nations.
Lanes
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, usually in larger cities |
| 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 | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
kenya:
Left
venezuela:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
kenya:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
kenya:
Yes, allow passing on the right.
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
kenya:
Use leftmost lane.
venezuela:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
kenya:
No
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
kenya:
N/A
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
kenya:
N/A
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
kenya:
Yes, in some areas
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
kenya:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
kenya:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
kenya:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
kenya:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
kenya:
50 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
kenya:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
kenya:
100 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
kenya:
80 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
kenya:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Signals
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Kenya | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
kenya:
Not used in Kenya
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
kenya:
English and Kiswahili; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
kenya:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
kenya:
Not allowed.
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
kenya:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
kenya:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
kenya:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
kenya:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
venezuela:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
kenya:
0.05%
venezuela:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
kenya:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
kenya:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
venezuela:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
kenya:
Use for first exit or adjacent exits
venezuela:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 or 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 999 or 911 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya | Check with your insurance provider |
Contact: General Emergency
kenya:
999 or 112
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
kenya:
999 or 911
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
kenya:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Kenya
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Penalties And Fines
| Kenya | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000 | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | KES 500 to KES 2,000 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | KES 2,000 to KES 10,000 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | KES 10,000 | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
kenya:
Varies; approximately KES 10,000 to KES 20,000
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
kenya:
KES 500 to KES 2,000
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
kenya:
KES 2,000 to KES 10,000
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
kenya:
KES 10,000
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
kenya:
Possible; fines often paid via mobile money systems
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible