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.

japanpanama

LEFT

Driving Side

The driving side in japan is the Left Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in japan is 92

1.199 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for japan is 1.199 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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	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:

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:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

japan:

Electronic signs display current limits.

panama:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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