Traffic Rules and Right-of-Way
What this domain tests
The examiner wants to see that you drive on the correct side of the road, yield to the right vehicles, keep a safe following distance and apply the speed limits that apply to your vehicle class - not just to cars in general.
The core rules
- Keep left. Kenya drives on the left, and you overtake on the right of the vehicle ahead.
- Following distance: at least two seconds in dry weather, three or more when wet, at night or when loaded.
- Speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on ordinary open roads, rising on highways and expressways; all PSVs and most goods vehicles are capped at 80 km/h and must carry a working speed limiter.
- No overtaking on bends, hill crests, bridges, railway crossings and pedestrian crossings, or where a continuous yellow line is on your side.
Right-of-way
- Roundabouts: give way to traffic already on the roundabout, coming from your right.
- Uncontrolled junctions: give way to the right.
- Zebra crossings: pedestrians have priority once they step onto the stripes, and you must not overtake a vehicle that has stopped at one.
- Emergency vehicles on siren or flashing lights get a clear path - but you must still check it is safe before moving aside, and you must not follow in their slipstream.
Worked example
You reach a four-way junction with no signs or lights. A car is approaching from your right at about the same moment. Because it is on your right, you give way and let it clear the junction before you move. Had the car been on your left, you would have gone first, provided the junction was clear.
Traps that cost marks
Candidates lose marks for "giving way to the left", accelerating to beat a roundabout, overtaking at a zebra crossing, and treating a PSV speed limiter as a suggestion rather than a legal cap. Do not wave other drivers through - the right-of-way is theirs, and taking charge of it causes collisions.