Driving Differences: India vs. Panama Explained
Driving in India and Panama presents unique challenges and regulations that are essential for travelers to understand. Key distinctions include lane usage—where India adheres to left-side driving while Panama embraces the right—and varied speed limits across urban and rural areas. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances is vital for a safe and enjoyable journey in either nation.
LEFT
Driving Side
The driving side in india is the Left Side of the road
57
Driving Safety Score
The driving Driving Safety Score in india is 57
1.16 $
Gas Price in USD
The driving Driving Safety Score for india is 1.16 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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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right | |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes | |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | 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: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes | |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | 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 |
Driving Side
india:
Left
panama:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h | |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 25-30 km/h | |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h | |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h | |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 70-80 km/h | |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h | |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 70-90 km/h | |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A | |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes | |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
india:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
panama:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
panama:
Common
Signals
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Panama | |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; 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
india:
Not used in India
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
panama:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Generally not allowed | |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs | |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
panama:
Generally not allowed
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
panama:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | 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 | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Mandatory every two years for new cars | |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield | |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory | |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations | |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
panama:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
panama:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Driving in India and Panama presents unique challenges and regulations that are essential for travelers to understand. Key distinctions include lane usage—where India adheres to left-side driving while Panama embraces the right—and varied speed limits across urban and rural areas. Familiarizing yourself with these nuances is vital for a safe and enjoyable journey in either nation.
Alcohol
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% | |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% | |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common, especially during weekends | |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial | |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
india:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
panama:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
panama:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 | |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 104 | |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | 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
india:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
india:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
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| India | Panama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | $25 to $75 | |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Varies; fines and points on license | |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license | |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay