Driving Differences: Cuba vs. Panama Revealed

When exploring the roads of Cuba and Panama, understanding their distinct driving regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key differences include lane usage, speed limits, and the enforcement of traffic laws. While Panama features designated bus lanes and stricter penalties, Cuba emphasizes local customs that every traveler should know. Drive wisely and enjoy your travels!

cubapanama

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in cuba is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in cuba is 84

1.295 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for cuba is 1.295 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Cuba	Panama
Overtaking: On Right	Not typical; follow local rules and signs.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles	Use the rightmost 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	Rare	Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.	Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.	Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

Overtaking: On Right

cuba:

Not typical; follow local rules and signs.

panama:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

cuba:

List length: 4

panama:

List length: 5

Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles

cuba:

Use the rightmost lane.

panama:

Use rightmost lane.

Bus Lanes: Presence

cuba:

panama:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

cuba:

N/A

panama:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

cuba:

N/A

panama:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

cuba:

Rare

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Usage

cuba:

Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.

panama:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

cuba:

Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

Speeds Limits

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	Cuba	Panama
Urban Areas: Standard	40-50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	60-80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	60-80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	50-70 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90-100 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90-100 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-90 km/h	70-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras	Rare	Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; enforced by traffic police	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

cuba:

40-50 km/h

panama:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

cuba:

30-40 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

cuba:

60-80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

cuba:

60-80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

cuba:

50-70 km/h

panama:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

cuba:

90-100 km/h

panama:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

cuba:

90-100 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

cuba:

80-90 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Enforcement: Speed Cameras

cuba:

Rare

panama:

Yes

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

cuba:

Common; enforced by traffic police

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Cuba	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Cuba	Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

cuba:

Not used in Cuba

panama:

Not used in Panama

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

cuba:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Traffic Signs: Warning

cuba:

Triangular with red border

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Cuba		Panama
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by area, check for local signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

cuba:

Not allowed

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

cuba:

Varies by area, check for local signs

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Cuba	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 inspection required	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Not mandatory	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

cuba:

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

cuba:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

cuba:

Annual inspection required

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

cuba:

Not mandatory

panama:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

cuba:

Not mandatory

panama:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Cuba		Panama
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	More frequent use than in some countries		Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

cuba:

More frequent use than in some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Alcohol

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	Cuba	Panama
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance	0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks	Less common; checkpoints used in some areas	Common, especially during weekends

Limits: General Drivers

cuba:

0.05%

panama:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

cuba:

0.02%

panama:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

cuba:

0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

cuba:

Less common; checkpoints used in some areas

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Emergency Services

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	Cuba	Panama
Contact: General Emergency	106	911
Contact: Traffic Police	106	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Varies by provider; national lines may apply	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

cuba:

106

panama:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

cuba:

106

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

cuba:

Varies by provider; national lines may apply

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

cuba:

Not mandatory, but recommended

panama:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

cuba:

Not mandatory, but recommended

panama:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Cuba	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fine equivalent varies, local currency	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fine equivalent varies, local currency	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fine equivalent varies, local currency	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common; usually paid directly to officers	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

cuba:

Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

cuba:

Fine equivalent varies, local currency

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

cuba:

Fine equivalent varies, local currency

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

cuba:

Fine equivalent varies, local currency

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

cuba:

Common; usually paid directly to officers

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Payment: Deadline

cuba:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay