Driving in Hungary vs. Panama: Key Differences Explained
When embarking on a journey through Hungary or Panama, understanding the distinct rules of the road is essential for ensuring your safety. From traffic signals to speed limits, these two countries exhibit notable contrasts. For instance, Hungary enforces a zero-tolerance alcohol policy, while Panama permits a higher blood alcohol content. Prepare for these unique regulations to navigate with confidence!
Lanes
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | 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. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
panama:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hungary:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
hungary:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
hungary:
130 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
panama:
Common
Signals
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | 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 | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
panama:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
hungary:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay