Kiribati is a small country in Oceania in the Pacific Ocean.  Foreign visitors may drive in Kiribati with their valid domestic driver licenses and International driving permits for a maximum period of two weeks after arrival.

The main road traffic rules:

• Driving is on the left side of the road.
• The minimum age for driving is 17 years.
• Drivers of public transport must be at least 25 years of age.
• The speed limit is 40 km/h in towns and villages and 60 km/h for any other length of road.
• It is required that the registration label is affixed to the lower left portion of the front windscreen.
• All motor vehicles occupants must wear seat belts.
• A person must not drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or another drug. The permitted blood alcohol level is 0.08%.
• A driver who makes a U-turn must give way to all vehicles and pedestrians.
• Drivers must give way to pedestrians at or near the intersection on the road and on a pedestrian crossing.
• A driver must stop at the STOP sign and give way to any vehicle or pedestrian at or near the STOP sign.
• At an intersection (except a T-intersection or roundabout) without a stop sign, a driver, who is going straight ahead, must give way to any vehicle approaching from the right.
• A driver, who is turning left, must give way to vehicles approaching from the right and pedestrians at near the intersection on the road on which the driver is entering.
• A driver who is turning right, give way to vehicles approaching from the right, oncoming vehicles which is going straight or turning left, pedestrians at or near the intersection.
• Drivers must give way to police or emergency vehicles that is displaying a flashing light or sounding an alarm.
• At roundabout, a driver must give way to the vehicle in the roundabout.
• A driver of the car must not stop:

1. in an intersection and on a road within 10 metres from the intersection;
2. on a pedestrian crossing  and on the road within 20 metres before the pedestrian crossing and 10 metres after the pedestrian crossing;
3. in a loading zone;
4. at a marked bus stop;
5. on the road in a position that obstructs traffic on the road;
6. on a bridge or causeway;
7. on a footpath.

• A driver who is permitted to stop in a loading zone must not stay longer than 30 minutes.
• A driver must park the vehicle facing in the direction of travel at least 1 metre from any vehicle in front and behind it.
• If a road has a continuous dividing line, a driver must park his vehicle at least 3 metres from the dividing line.
• On a one-way road, drivers must park vehicles parallel to the far left or far right side of the road.
• On a two-way road, drivers must park their vehicles parallel to the far left side of the road.
• A driver must not use the vehicle’s headlights on high-beam if the driver is driving less than 200 metres behind a vehicle travelling in the same direction or less than 200 metres from an oncoming vehicle.
• Drivers may use a horn if it is necessary to warn other road users or animals.
• It is not permitted use a device for detecting the use of a speed measuring device.

The additional information:

• Drivers should be careful when driving at night since no streetlights and visibility is poor.
• To rent a car in Kiribati, persons must be 21 years of age.
• The random breath testing and checkpoints by the police officers are legal.
• The penalty must be paid within 21 days of the date of the notice. If the penalty is not paid, and if the court finds the person guilty, the person will pay the amount of the penalty together with the administrative fee and court costs.
• In a case of an accident, a driver must give his name and address, the name and address of the vehicle’s owner and the vehicle’s registration number to other driver or other person involved in the crash. If anyone is killed or injured in the accident, the driver must give the required particulars to a police officer.

Kiribati Road Traffic Signs

 Driving Overseas - Short Information