Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Panama Explained
When exploring the nuances of motoring in Barbados and Panama, essential distinctions emerge that impact safety and navigation. From driving on opposite sides of the road to varying speed limits and lane regulations, understanding these critical contrasts is vital for a secure journey. Discover how each country prioritizes road etiquette, emergency protocols, and driver responsibilities to ensure safe travels.
Lanes
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | 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: 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. |
Driving Side
barbados:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
panama:
Common
Signals
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | 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 | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
barbados:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Barbados | 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 | Usually not required for non-residents | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | 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
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | 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
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
panama:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local 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
barbados:
211 or 911
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | 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 for not wearing seatbelts | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
barbados:
Fines and points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay