Driving Differences: Japan vs. Panama for Safe Travel
When exploring the roadways of Japan and Panama, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key contrasts, such as driving on the left in Japan versus the right in Panama, highlight unique approaches to safety. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey in each country.
Lanes
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is 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: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes 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 |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | 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 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 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
japan:
40-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
panama:
Common
Signals
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | 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 | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | 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 |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
panama:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay