Driving Differences: Canada vs Panama Explained
When navigating the roads of Canada and Panama, drivers encounter notable variations in traffic regulations and practices. From lane markings and speed limits to emergency protocols, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey abroad. This comparison highlights the essential differences to help travelers drive safely and confidently in each country.
Lanes
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS' | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often green paint. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
canada:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
canada:
May indicate passing zones on two-way roads when safe.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
canada:
Not usual; however, allowed in some circumstances when the vehicle in front is turning left.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
canada:
Reserved for buses; some lanes may allow taxis and cyclists.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
canada:
May be labeled with signs or road marking such as 'BUS'
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
canada:
Bicycle symbols and often green paint.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
canada:
Yes
panama:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
canada:
Minimum two occupants
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 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: Buses And Vans | 100-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-110 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 | Yes, but varies by province | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
canada:
40-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
canada:
40 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
80-100 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
canada:
100-120 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
canada:
90-110 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
canada:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
canada:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
canada:
Yes, but varies by province
panama:
Common
Signals
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Canada | 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 | Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
canada:
Not used in Canada
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
canada:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
canada:
Bilingual (English and French in some areas); symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign. | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by province and locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
canada:
Allowed in most provinces, unless prohibited by a sign.
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
canada:
Varies by province and locality; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Canada | 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 |
| Insurance | Mandatory liability insurance | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by province; proof may be required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces | 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
canada:
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
canada:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Insurance
canada:
Mandatory liability insurance
panama:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
canada:
Varies by province; proof may be required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
canada:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some provinces
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
canada:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Alcohol
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%, zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used in many areas | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by province; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Underage Drivers
canada:
0.00%, zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
canada:
Common; checkpoints used in many areas
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
canada:
Varies by province; can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Depends on province; often 911 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or CAA | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
canada:
Depends on province; often 911
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
canada:
Check with your insurance provider or CAA
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
canada:
Recommended, not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Canada | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; often upwards of $200 | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
Common Fines: Speeding
canada:
Varies; penalties increase by km/h over limit
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
canada:
Varies; often upwards of $200
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
canada:
Increasingly severe; often $200-$1000 or higher, points on license
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
canada:
Varies; often hundreds of dollars, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
canada:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations