Driving in Finland vs. Panama: Key Differences to Know

When exploring the nuances of road regulations, Finland and Panama present intriguing contrasts. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol consumption rules, each country embodies unique driving traditions. Understanding these distinctions is vital for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey, whether navigating the serene roads of Finland or the bustling streets of Panama.

finlandpanama

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in finland is 88

1.77 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for finland is 1.77 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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	Finland	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: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Cycle Lanes: Presence

finland:

Yes

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Markings

finland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

finland:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits.

panama:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Finland	Panama
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30-40 km/h	25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	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	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

finland:

50 km/h

panama:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

finland:

30-40 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

finland:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

finland:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80 km/h

panama:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

finland:

100 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

finland:

80-100 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

finland:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

finland:

Electronic signs display current limits

panama:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

finland:

Yes

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Finland	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not commonly used	Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language	Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard	Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with a yellow background	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

finland:

Not commonly used

panama:

Not used in Panama

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

finland:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Traffic Signs: Language

finland:

Finnish and Swedish; symbols are standard

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

finland:

Triangular-shaped with a yellow background

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Finland		Panama
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

finland:

Not generally allowed

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

finland:

Allowed unless prohibited by signs

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Finland	Panama
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory for certain situations	Recommended

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

finland:

Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

finland:

Accepted with International Driving Permit, or official translation

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

finland:

Mandatory; must display valid inspection sticker

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

finland:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

panama:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory for certain situations

panama:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Finland		Panama
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

finland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Alcohol

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	Finland	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	Common; checkpoints used	Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Results in license suspension	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

finland:

0.05%

panama:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

finland:

0.02%

panama:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

finland:

0.00%; zero tolerance

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

finland:

Common; checkpoints used

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Enforcement: Fines

finland:

Can be substantial

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

finland:

Results in license suspension

panama:

Can result in license suspension

Emergency Services

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	Finland	Panama
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact through 112	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles	Mandatory, recommended	Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory, recommended	Recommended

Contact: General Emergency

finland:

112

panama:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

finland:

Contact through 112

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

finland:

Check with your insurance provider or Autoliitto

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

panama:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

finland:

Mandatory, recommended

panama:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Finland	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines based on income	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, typically €85	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, typically €100	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; usually drive must pay later	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Common Fines: Speeding

finland:

Varies; fines based on income

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

finland:

Fines apply, typically €85

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

finland:

Fines apply, typically €100

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

finland:

Fines apply

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

finland:

Possible; usually drive must pay later

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations