Driving Differences: Afghanistan vs. Panama
When navigating the roads of Afghanistan and Panama, drivers encounter distinct sets of regulations and practices that can significantly impact their travel experience. This comparison highlights crucial variations, such as lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol thresholds, ensuring that road users are well-informed for safer journeys abroad.
Lanes
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| 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 | No | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
afghanistan:
Not commonly used.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
afghanistan:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, fines can be issued instantly | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
afghanistan:
25-40 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
afghanistan:
25 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
60-80 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
afghanistan:
100-120 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
afghanistan:
80-100 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
afghanistan:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
afghanistan:
Yes, fines can be issued instantly
panama:
Common
Signals
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Afghanistan | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Pashto, Dari | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Standard symbols used | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
afghanistan:
Not used in Afghanistan
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
afghanistan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
afghanistan:
Pashto, Dari
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
afghanistan:
Standard symbols used
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not usually allowed | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
afghanistan:
Not usually allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
afghanistan:
Varies; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
afghanistan:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
afghanistan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
afghanistan:
Frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Alcohol
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by region; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
afghanistan:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
afghanistan:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
afghanistan:
Varies by region; can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Dial local police station | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider; limited services | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
afghanistan:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
afghanistan:
Dial local police station
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
afghanistan:
Check with your insurance provider; limited services
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
afghanistan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Afghanistan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; 500 AFN and above | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for not wearing seat belts | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for use while driving | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, point system not common | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines may be paid instantly | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
afghanistan:
Varies; 500 AFN and above
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
afghanistan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
afghanistan:
Fines apply for not wearing seat belts
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
afghanistan:
Fines apply for use while driving
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
afghanistan:
Fines apply, point system not common
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
afghanistan:
Yes; fines may be paid instantly
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
afghanistan:
Varies; typically within a few days
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay