Driving in Italy vs. Panama: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Italy and Panama. From speed limits to lane markings, these nations exhibit unique approaches to vehicular navigation. Notably, Italy enforces stricter variable speed limits, while Panama’s alcohol thresholds differ. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring safe travel in diverse environments.
Lanes
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
italy:
Not commonly used; occasionally as edge line.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
italy:
Not used for lane separation; may indicate temporary diversions.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
italy:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
italy:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Italy | 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 | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70 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 | 80 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
italy:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
italy:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
italy:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
70 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
italy:
130 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
italy:
100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
italy:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
italy:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
italy:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
italy:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
panama:
Common
Signals
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Used; prepare to go when green appears | 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 | Italian; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
italy:
Used; prepare to go when green appears
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
italy:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
italy:
Italian; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
italy:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless indicated by a sign | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
italy:
Not allowed unless indicated by a sign
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
italy:
Varies by locality; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Italy | 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 with International Driving Permit | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory for vehicles over four years old | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
italy:
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
italy:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
italy:
Mandatory for vehicles over four years old
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
italy:
Displayed on license plate
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
italy:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Alcohol
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
italy:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
italy:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
italy:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
italy:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
italy:
Substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 (State Police) | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 116 (ACI) | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
italy:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
italy:
113 (State Police)
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
italy:
116 (ACI)
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
italy:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Italy | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Varies; fines apply | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, strict enforcement | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, may include points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible, especially for foreign drivers | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
italy:
Varies; significant fines, possible license suspension
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
italy:
Varies; fines apply
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
italy:
Fines apply, strict enforcement
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
italy:
Fines apply, may include points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
italy:
Possible, especially for foreign drivers
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
italy:
Varies; typically a set period to pay, often 60 days
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay