Driving Differences: Monaco vs. Panama Explained
When navigating the roads of Monaco and Panama, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experiences. Monaco features limited bus and cycle lanes, while Panama boasts a more structured lane system. Moreover, speed limits and alcohol thresholds vary significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding these disparities for a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Monaco. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed if traffic conditions permit. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Limited, mostly on main roads | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Predominantly for buses. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled ‘BUS’. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with small vehicles or buses. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
monaco:
Not commonly used in Monaco.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
monaco:
Allowed if traffic conditions permit.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited, mostly on main roads
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Predominantly for buses.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Labeled ‘BUS’.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
monaco:
Limited
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
monaco:
Shared with small vehicles or buses.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
monaco:
Bicycle symbols or shared lane markings.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Monaco | 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 | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | N/A | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | N/A | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | N/A | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Standard speed limits apply | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common for traffic violations | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
monaco:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
monaco:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
monaco:
N/A
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
monaco:
N/A
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
monaco:
N/A
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
monaco:
Standard speed limits apply
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
monaco:
Common for traffic violations
panama:
Common
Signals
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Rare in Monaco, usually not used | 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 | French; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
monaco:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
panama:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
monaco:
Rare in Monaco, usually not used
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
monaco:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
monaco:
French; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
monaco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted where indicated; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
monaco:
Prohibited
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
monaco:
Permitted where indicated; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Monaco | 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 for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required annually; proof may be required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
monaco:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
monaco:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
monaco:
Required annually; proof may be required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
monaco:
Displayed on the vehicle windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
monaco:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Alcohol
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by severity | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
monaco:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
monaco:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
monaco:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
monaco:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
monaco:
Can be substantial; varies by severity
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 18 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Local police also available on 911 using GSM | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through service providers or insurance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
monaco:
112 or 18
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
monaco:
Local police also available on 911 using GSM
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
monaco:
Available through service providers or insurance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
monaco:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
monaco:
Mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Monaco | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines are substantial | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applies if not used | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Substantial fines issued | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | High fines, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; varies | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must be settled soon | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
monaco:
Varies; fines are substantial
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
monaco:
Fine applies if not used
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
monaco:
Substantial fines issued
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
monaco:
High fines, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
monaco:
Possible; varies
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
monaco:
Varies; typically must be settled soon
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay