Driving in Australia vs. Panama: Key Safety Differences
As you prepare for your journey, understanding the nuances of driving in Australia versus Panama is crucial for a secure experience. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Australia and the right in Panama, varying speed limits, and distinct road etiquette. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate confidently and safely in either country.
Lanes
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
australia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
panama:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
australia:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
panama:
Common
Signals
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Not used in Panama |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
panama:
Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
panama:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
australia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| 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
australia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
australia:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
panama:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
panama:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 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
australia:
000
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay