Driving in Iceland vs. Panama: Key Safety Differences

Discover the unique nuances of navigating the roads in Iceland and Panama. While both countries prioritize vehicular regulations, their approaches vary significantly. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol consumption norms—vital factors for ensuring a safe journey abroad. Understanding these variances will enhance your driving experience in either destination.

icelandpanama

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in iceland is 93

2.229 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for iceland is 2.229 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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	Iceland	Panama
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 4	List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.	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: Indications	N/A	N/A

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

iceland:

List length: 4

panama:

List length: 5

Bus Lanes: Usage

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

panama:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

panama:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

iceland:

Yes

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Markings

iceland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

iceland:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Iceland	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 on gravel roads	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	90 km/h on paved roads	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h on paved roads	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

iceland:

50 km/h

panama:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

iceland:

30 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

panama:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

iceland:

90 km/h

panama:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

iceland:

90 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

iceland:

80 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

iceland:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

iceland:

Yes

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Iceland	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	N/A	Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Horn Usage: Penalties	N/A	Fines may apply for misuse
Hand Signals: Common Usage	N/A	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language	Icelandic; symbols are standard	Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red borders	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

iceland:

N/A

panama:

Not used in Panama

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

panama:

Signal when exiting

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

iceland:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Horn Usage: Penalties

iceland:

N/A

panama:

Fines may apply for misuse

Hand Signals: Common Usage

iceland:

N/A

panama:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

Traffic Signs: Language

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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

Right Turn On Red

iceland:

Not allowed

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Iceland	Panama
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Annual inspection required	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

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

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

iceland:

Annual inspection required

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

panama:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

panama:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

iceland:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Alcohol

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	Iceland	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	Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial penalties can apply	Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension and fine	Can result in license suspension

Limits: General Drivers

iceland:

0.05%

panama:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

iceland:

0.02%

panama:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

iceland:

Common

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Enforcement: Fines

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

Test Refusal

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

panama:

Can result in license suspension

Roundabouts

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	Iceland		Panama
Signaling: Entering	Signal when entering and exiting		Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting	Signal when preparing to exit		Signal right when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

panama:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Exiting

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

panama:

Signal right when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Iceland	Panama
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	National Police number 112	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact local towing services or insurance provider	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Not mandatory	Recommended

Contact: General Emergency

iceland:

112

panama:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

iceland:

National Police number 112

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

iceland:

Not mandatory

panama:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Iceland	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Mandatory; fines apply	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines if found using without hands-free	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

iceland:

Fines and points on license

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Payment: Deadline

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay