Driving Differences: Hong Kong vs. Panama Explained
When navigating the roads of Hong Kong and Panama, drivers encounter distinct rules and customs that underscore the importance of road safety. Key contrasts include driving on the left in Hong Kong versus the right in Panama, and varying speed limits and overtaking practices. Understanding these nuances ensures a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking should be done on the right. | 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: Markings | Labeled 'BUS ONLY' 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 painted on road surfaces. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
Driving Side
hong kong:
Left
panama:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
hong kong:
Prohibited; left is the normal driving lane
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
hong kong:
Yes, overtaking should be done on the right.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
hong kong:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Labeled 'BUS ONLY' with road signs.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hong kong:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hong kong:
Bicycle symbols painted on road surfaces.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Speeds Limits
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-50 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-100 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are usually sent by mail | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
hong kong:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hong kong:
30-50 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
70-100 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hong kong:
100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hong kong:
100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hong kong:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hong kong:
No; fines are usually sent by mail
panama:
Common
Signals
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used when lights are about to turn green | 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 | Chinese and English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hong kong:
Used when lights are about to turn green
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hong kong:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
hong kong:
Chinese and English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hong kong:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or white background
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hong kong:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hong kong:
Permitted unless prohibited by sign
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Hong kong | 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 | Required annually | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hong kong:
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
hong kong:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hong kong:
Required annually
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hong kong:
Displayed on the windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | 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
hong kong:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hong kong:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | HK$5,000 or more for first offenses | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hong kong:
0.05%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hong kong:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
hong kong:
Common, checkpoints used frequently
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
hong kong:
HK$5,000 or more for first offenses
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
hong kong:
Signal left when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 999 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies; usually contact through 999 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA | 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: General Emergency
hong kong:
999
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
hong kong:
Varies; usually contact through 999
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hong kong:
Check with your insurance provider or member services like AA
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hong kong:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hong kong | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | HK$5,000, potential imprisonment | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | HK$2,000, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | HK$900, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hong kong:
Varies; HK$450 to HK$1,000, points on license
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hong kong:
HK$5,000, potential imprisonment
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
hong kong:
HK$2,000, points on license
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hong kong:
HK$900, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hong kong:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by mail
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
hong kong:
Varies; typically 14 to 30 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay