Driving in Lebanon vs. Panama: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Lebanon and Panama, understanding the unique driving regulations and practices is essential for ensuring safety. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol restrictions, which can significantly impact your travel experience. Familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances will help you stay secure while exploring both vibrant nations.
Lanes
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used as a separation line in some areas. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
lebanon:
Typically used to mark out zones where parking is prohibited.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
lebanon:
Used as a separation line in some areas.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Presence
lebanon:
No
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
lebanon:
N/A
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
lebanon:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
lebanon:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
lebanon:
N/A
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
lebanon:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Speeds Limits
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30-40 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50-80 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 |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
lebanon:
40-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
lebanon:
30-40 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
lebanon:
50-80 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
lebanon:
80-100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
lebanon:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
lebanon:
Yes
panama:
Common
Signals
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Lebanon | Not used in Panama |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Arabic and French; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red borders | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
lebanon:
Not used in Lebanon
panama:
Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
lebanon:
Signal when entering and exiting
panama:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
lebanon:
Avoid unnecessary use in urban areas
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
lebanon:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
lebanon:
Triangle-shaped with red borders
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
lebanon:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Lebanon | 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 required | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspection required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
lebanon:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
lebanon:
International Driving Permit required
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
lebanon:
Yes, annual inspection required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lebanon:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
lebanon:
Horn usage is more frequent compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
lebanon:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common through checkpoints | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for violations | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
lebanon:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
lebanon:
0.05%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
lebanon:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
lebanon:
Common through checkpoints
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
lebanon:
Substantial for violations
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal when preparing to enter | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
lebanon:
Signal when preparing to enter
panama:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Varies; consult your insurance provider | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
lebanon:
112
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
lebanon:
112
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
lebanon:
Varies; consult your insurance provider
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
lebanon:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Lebanon | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; may lead to substantial fines | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Fines and potential incarceration | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory for all passengers | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Substantial fines | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; often paid at stations | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Usually within 15-30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
lebanon:
Varies; may lead to substantial fines
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
lebanon:
Fines and potential incarceration
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
lebanon:
Mandatory for all passengers
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
lebanon:
Fines imposed for mobile use without hands-free
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
lebanon:
Substantial fines
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
lebanon:
Possible; often paid at stations
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
lebanon:
Usually within 15-30 days
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay