Driving in China vs Panama: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the distinct driving environments of China and Panama reveals fascinating contrasts in road regulations and safety measures. From lane markings to alcohol limits, each country has unique approaches that affect how motorists navigate the roads. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed in certain cases; check local rules. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3] | Railroad crossings | Pedestrian crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane if possible. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
china:
List length: 4
panama:
List length: 5
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
china:
Railroad crossings
panama:
Pedestrian crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
china:
Yes
panama:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 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 | Yes, especially in urban areas | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
china:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
china:
70-90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
china:
70-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
china:
60-80 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
china:
90-100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
china:
80-100 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
china:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
panama:
Common
Signals
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in China | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Chinese; symbols also used | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular shape with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
china:
Not used in China
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Chinese driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required for short visits | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
panama:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially near bars and clubs | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe fines, license suspension possible | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
china:
0.02%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
china:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
panama:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight ahead | Use for first exit or straight |
Lane Usage: Right
china:
Use for first exit or straight ahead
panama:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 110 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Same as general emergency; 110 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
china:
110
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
china:
Check with your insurance provider
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| China | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ¥50 to ¥200 | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | 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; fines often paid online or at banks | 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
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
china:
¥50 to ¥200
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
china:
Fines and points on license
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
china:
Fines and points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay