Driving in Belgium vs. Panama: Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique driving practices between Belgium and Panama, essential for ensuring your road safety abroad. This comparison highlights crucial contrasts, such as speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol regulations, enabling you to navigate each country's distinct road culture with confidence and awareness.
Lanes
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
belgium:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
belgium:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
60-90 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
panama:
Common
Signals
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | 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 | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
belgium:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | 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 | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
belgium:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Alcohol
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine of around 50 EUR | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay