Driving in France vs. Panama: Key Safety Differences
Driving in France and Panama presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should know. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol limits, which greatly affect road safety. Familiarizing yourself with these contrasts can enhance your experience and ensure a secure journey in both countries.
Lanes
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| 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 |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
france:
Not commonly used; used for temporary markings during roadworks.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
france:
Used for temporary markings during roadworks; passing permitted when safe.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
france:
Allowed only in specific conditions, such as heavy traffic; not generally recommended.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
france:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes cyclists.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
france:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
france:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
france:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
france:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 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: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
france:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
france:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
france:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
france:
80 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
france:
130 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
france:
100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
france:
90 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
france:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
france:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
france:
Not common; fines are usually mailed after citation
panama:
Common
Signals
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in France | Not used in Panama |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | French; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
france:
Not used in France
panama:
Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
france:
Signal when entering and exiting
panama:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
france:
Unnecessary use discouraged especially at night; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
france:
French; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
france:
Triangular with red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
france:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
france:
Allowed if not specifically prohibited by signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits | 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 | Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory in vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory in vehicle | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
france:
Accepted for short visits
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
france:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
france:
Yes, an MOT style test is required periodically
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory in vehicle
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Reserved mainly for use in emergencies | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
france:
Reserved mainly for use in emergencies
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
france:
Pull over and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| France | 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; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
france:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
france:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
france:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
france:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
france:
Can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when entering if turning right | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
france:
Signal when entering if turning right
panama:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 17 or through local police | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or assistance service | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
france:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
france:
17 or through local police
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
france:
Check with your insurance provider or assistance service
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
france:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| France | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €135 | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €135 | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €135 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 45 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
france:
Varies; typically €68 to €3750, license points
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
france:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time, and license confiscation
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
france:
€135
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
france:
€135
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
france:
€135
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
france:
Possible; fines can be paid directly to police for minor offenses
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
france:
Varies; typically 45 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay