Driving in El Salvador vs. Panama: Key Differences
Exploring the roads of El Salvador and Panama reveals intriguing contrasts in traffic regulations and safety protocols. While both countries prioritize cyclist accommodations, Panama boasts higher speed limits and more stringent enforcement of penalties compared to El Salvador. Understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring safe travels and navigating the diverse driving landscapes effectively.
Lanes
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Cycle Lanes: Presence
el salvador:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
el salvador:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
el salvador:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 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 | 60-80 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
el salvador:
20-40 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
el salvador:
20-30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
60-80 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
el salvador:
80-100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
el salvador:
80-90 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
el salvador:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
el salvador:
No
panama:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
el salvador:
Yes
panama:
Common
Signals
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not common in El Salvador | Not used in Panama |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
el salvador:
Not common in El Salvador
panama:
Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
el salvador:
Signal when entering and exiting
panama:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
el salvador:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Warning
el salvador:
Triangle-shaped with red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
el salvador:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended | 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 | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
el salvador:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
el salvador:
Mandatory annual inspection
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
el salvador:
Displayed on the windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
panama:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in some areas to communicate | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Yield and make way | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
el salvador:
Frequent use in some areas to communicate
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
el salvador:
Yield and make way
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines and penalties | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
el salvador:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
el salvador:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
el salvador:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
el salvador:
Common
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
el salvador:
Substantial fines and penalties
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 120 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 121 | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
el salvador:
120
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
el salvador:
121
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
el salvador:
Required
panama:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| El salvador | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $20 to $100 | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $20 to $50 | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $30 to $100 | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $200 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, frequently enforced | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
el salvador:
Varies; $20 to $100
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
el salvador:
$20 to $50
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
el salvador:
$30 to $100
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
el salvador:
$50 to $200
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
el salvador:
Yes, frequently enforced
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
el salvador:
Typically 30 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay