Driving Abroad: The Hidden Challenges Facing Kenyans Behind the Wheel

Twenty-four-year-old Kenyan woman Benina Jepkoech is presumed to have drowned after the vehicle she was driving plunged into the North Thompson River in Kamloops, British Columbia, on 17 May.

The crash occurred near Schubert Drive and Birch Avenue at about 6.20pm. A 21-year-old passenger survived after three members of the public rescued him, while Jepkoech was carried downstream by the river's strong currents. Authorities later recovered the vehicle, but efforts to locate her continued.

The circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. Her disappearance has also highlighted some of the challenges Kenyan motorists can face when driving in countries with different road systems, laws and environmental conditions.

Many Kenyans who move abroad eventually rely on cars for transport, work and daily activities. However, driving in a new country can require adjustments that go beyond obtaining a local licence.

One of the main differences for Kenyan drivers is the direction of traffic. Kenya uses a left-hand traffic system, with vehicles generally driven on the left side of the road and the driver seated on the right. Canada uses a right-hand traffic system, with vehicles travelling on the right and the driver seated on the left.

The change can be difficult because many driving actions become automatic through years of practice. Positioning a vehicle, approaching intersections, making turns and judging traffic movement are often carried out without conscious thought. Moving to a country with a different road system requires drivers to adjust those established habits.

The differences extend to highway merging, overtaking, lane positioning, road markings and roundabouts. Manoeuvres that were familiar in Kenya may require greater concentration when performed under a different set of road rules.

Speed is another important consideration. Driving experience gained in Kenya does not necessarily translate directly to different road environments abroad. Safe speeds depend not only on posted limits but also on road design, traffic, visibility, terrain and weather.

British Columbia presents additional challenges because of its varied terrain and changing weather conditions. Snow, ice, freezing rain, fog and reduced daylight can affect visibility, braking distances and vehicle control. Drivers who have spent most of their lives driving in Kenya may have limited experience with these conditions.

Canadian authorities also impose specific licensing and road-safety requirements. In British Columbia, new residents are generally required to exchange foreign driving licences for local licences within a specified period. Depending on where a driver's previous licence was issued, the process may also involve knowledge or road tests.

Drivers moving to Canada must also familiarise themselves with local rules covering insurance, seat belts, mobile-phone use, impaired driving, pedestrians and cyclists. Regulations and enforcement practices can differ significantly from those in Kenya.

The experience of driving for many years can create confidence, but familiarity with one road system does not automatically mean familiarity with another. Drivers who move abroad need time to understand local traffic rules, road layouts and driving conditions before relying on habits developed elsewhere.

For Kenyans living in Canada, Britain, the United States, Australia and other countries, driving is often an important part of daily life. Adapting to local road conditions and regulations is therefore an essential part of settling into a new environment.