Driving Differences: Fiji vs. Panama Explained
When comparing the road regulations and driving experiences of Fiji and Panama, significant contrasts emerge. From driving sides and lane usage to speed limits and penalties, understanding these variances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Discover how these two nations prioritize motorist safety and traffic etiquette to help you navigate abroad with confidence.
Lanes
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost 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 | No | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
fiji:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
fiji:
No
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
fiji:
Yes
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
fiji:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
fiji:
N/A
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
fiji:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
fiji:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 kph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 kph | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 kph | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 kph | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 kph | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 kph | 70-90 km/h |
| Speed Units | kph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
fiji:
50 kph
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
fiji:
30 kph
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
80 kph
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
fiji:
70 kph
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
60 kph
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
fiji:
100 kph
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
fiji:
90 kph
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
fiji:
80 kph
panama:
70-90 km/h
Speed Units
fiji:
kph
panama:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
fiji:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
panama:
Common
Signals
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Fiji | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed only where indicated by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
fiji:
Not allowed.
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Fiji | 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 vehicle inspections are mandatory | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
fiji:
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
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints frequently used | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, potential loss of license | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
fiji:
0.05%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider | 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: Traffic Police
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Fiji | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500 | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines can apply | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply; obey signals | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay