Driving Differences: Mexico vs. Panama Explained

When navigating the roads of Mexico and Panama, understanding the nuances of their traffic regulations is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include the use of bus lanes, speed limits, and penalties for infractions. Whether you're exploring urban landscapes or rural routes, this comparison highlights essential guidelines to enhance your driving experience abroad.

mexicopanama

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in mexico is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in mexico is 65

1.247 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for mexico is 1.247 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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	Mexico	Panama
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage	Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.	Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and sometimes 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

Bus Lanes: Usage

mexico:

Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.

panama:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

mexico:

Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.

panama:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

mexico:

Yes

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Usage

mexico:

Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.

panama:

Exclusive for bicycles.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

mexico:

Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

mexico:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

mexico:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Mexico	Panama
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	30 km/h	25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, particularly in high traffic areas	Common

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

mexico:

30 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

mexico:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

mexico:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

mexico:

80-100 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

mexico:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

mexico:

Yes, particularly in high traffic areas

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Mexico	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Mexico	Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular signs with red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

mexico:

Not used in Mexico

panama:

Not used in Panama

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

mexico:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Traffic Signs: Warning

mexico:

Triangular signs with red border

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Mexico		Panama
Right Turn On Red	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign		Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

mexico:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

mexico:

Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Mexico	Panama
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Varies by state; proof may be required	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the 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

mexico:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

mexico:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

mexico:

Varies by state; proof may be required

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

mexico:

Displayed on the windshield

panama:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

mexico:

Not mandatory

panama:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

mexico:

Not mandatory

panama:

Recommended

Road Etiquette

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	Mexico		Panama
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Moderate use compared to some countries		Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

mexico:

Moderate use compared to some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Alcohol

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	Mexico	Panama
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common in urban areas, especially during holidays	Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: Underage Drivers

mexico:

0.00%

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

mexico:

Common in urban areas, especially during holidays

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Enforcement: Fines

mexico:

Can be substantial

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

Emergency Services

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	Mexico	Panama
Contact: Traffic Police	066 or 911	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'	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: Traffic Police

mexico:

066 or 911

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

mexico:

Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles

mexico:

Not mandatory, but recommended

panama:

Mandatory

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

mexico:

Not mandatory, but recommended

panama:

Recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Mexico	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; $40 to $200, points on license	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Varies, up to $50, points in some states	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	Varies; can lead to significant fines	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; can be substantial, points on license	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline	Varies; system improvements for online payments	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

mexico:

Varies; $40 to $200, points on license

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

mexico:

Varies, up to $50, points in some states

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

mexico:

Varies; can lead to significant fines

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

mexico:

Varies; can be substantial, points on license

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

mexico:

Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Payment: Deadline

mexico:

Varies; system improvements for online payments

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay