Driving in Egypt vs. Panama: Essential Safety Comparisons
When exploring the roads of Egypt and Panama, understanding their distinct regulations and practices is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Key differences include the presence and usage of bus and cycle lanes, speed limits in urban areas, and varying alcohol tolerance levels. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts will enhance your driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Typically used by buses and minibuses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Not consistently marked. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Often unmarked. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits. | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Typically used by buses and minibuses.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Not consistently marked.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
egypt:
Limited
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
egypt:
Rare and may not be exclusive to bicycles.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
egypt:
Often unmarked.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 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 | 70-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 90-120 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Fixed speed limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Common |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
egypt:
40 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
70-90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
egypt:
70-90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
70-90 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
egypt:
90-120 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
egypt:
90-100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
egypt:
80-90 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
egypt:
Fixed speed limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
panama:
Common
Signals
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Egypt | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Commonly used to communicate with other drivers | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Fines can occur for excessive misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To signal other drivers or warn of presence | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not officially regulated | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Used in some situations due to high traffic density | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangles with a red border and white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
egypt:
Not used in Egypt
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Allowed
egypt:
Commonly used to communicate with other drivers
panama:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
egypt:
Unnecessary use discouraged; certain areas may restrict usage
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
egypt:
Fines can occur for excessive misuse
panama:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
egypt:
To signal other drivers or warn of presence
panama:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
egypt:
Not officially regulated
panama:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
egypt:
Used in some situations due to high traffic density
panama:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
egypt:
Arabic; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
egypt:
Triangles with a red border and white background
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
egypt:
Usually not allowed unless indicated otherwise
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
egypt:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid Egyptian driver's license required | Valid driver's license required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory annual inspection | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Provided after passing inspection | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
egypt:
Valid Egyptian driver's license required
panama:
Valid driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
egypt:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
egypt:
International Driving Permit required
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
egypt:
Mandatory annual inspection
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
egypt:
Provided after passing inspection
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Common in high traffic areas | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, though not always observed | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Give way and allow passage | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
egypt:
Common in high traffic areas
panama:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
egypt:
Common practice, though not always observed
panama:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Limited
egypt:
Commonly used
panama:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
egypt:
Frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
egypt:
Give way and allow passage
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Egypt | 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 | Conducted frequently | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in penalties and license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
egypt:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
egypt:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
egypt:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
egypt:
Conducted frequently
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
egypt:
Can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
egypt:
Can result in penalties and license suspension
panama:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 122 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 122 | 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
egypt:
122
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
egypt:
122
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
egypt:
Check with your insurance provider
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
egypt:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Egypt | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines can be significant | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply for non-compliance | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for non-compliance | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Significant fines and points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines are often paid immediately | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within a few weeks | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
egypt:
Varies; fines can be significant
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
egypt:
Severe penalties including fines and possible jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
egypt:
Fines apply for non-compliance
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
egypt:
Significant fines and points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
egypt:
Yes; fines are often paid immediately
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
egypt:
Varies; typically within a few weeks
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay