Driving in Bhutan vs. Panama: Key Differences Explained
When embarking on a journey in Bhutan or Panama, understanding the distinct driving norms is crucial for a safe experience. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Bhutan versus the right in Panama, varied speed limits, and the presence of bus and cycle lanes in Panama, highlighting the significant differences in road etiquette and regulations.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | 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
bhutan:
Left
panama:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bhutan:
No
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
bhutan:
Yes
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
panama:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bhutan:
Yes
panama:
Common
Signals
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | 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
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
bhutan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bhutan:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; 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 |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | 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
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | 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 enforced | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | 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 | Yes | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bhutan:
Fines and points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay