Driving in Myanmar vs. Panama: Essential Safety Tips
When exploring the roads of Myanmar and Panama, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and the treatment of emergency vehicles. With Myanmar favoring right-side overtaking and Panama encouraging bus lane utilization, drivers must adapt to each nation’s distinct norms for a safer experience.
Lanes
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No, overtaking is on the right. | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed as this is the side of overtaking. | 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 | Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
myanmar:
Marks the edge on divided roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
myanmar:
No, overtaking is on the right.
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
myanmar:
Allowed as this is the side of overtaking.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
myanmar:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Usually reserved for buses, some allow taxis.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
Labeled appropriately; road signs indicate usage.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
myanmar:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
myanmar:
Cyclists usually share the road with vehicles.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
myanmar:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
myanmar:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| 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 | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 50 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
myanmar:
30-40 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
myanmar:
30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
50 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
myanmar:
100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
myanmar:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
myanmar:
70 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
myanmar:
N/A
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
myanmar:
Yes
panama:
Common
Signals
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Myanmar | 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 | Burmese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
myanmar:
Not used in Myanmar
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
myanmar:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
myanmar:
Burmese; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
myanmar:
Triangular or rectangular with red or yellow backgrounds
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless permitted by a sign | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless permitted by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by a sign
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
myanmar:
Prohibited unless permitted by signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; 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 | Yes, periodic inspection required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
myanmar:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
myanmar:
Yes, periodic inspection required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
myanmar:
Displayed on the windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use, more common in cities | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
myanmar:
Moderate use, more common in cities
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
myanmar:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.03% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; often during festivals | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity; can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can lead to arrest and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
myanmar:
0.07%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
myanmar:
0.03%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
myanmar:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
myanmar:
Less common; often during festivals
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
myanmar:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
myanmar:
Can lead to arrest and fines
panama:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 199 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Contact local police | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Available through some insurance providers | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
myanmar:
199
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
myanmar:
Contact local police
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
myanmar:
Available through some insurance providers
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
myanmar:
Recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Myanmar | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; small fines for minor overshoots | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine enforced; mandatory use | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for usage while driving | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applied for violations | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; else must be paid at office | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
Common Fines: Speeding
myanmar:
Varies; small fines for minor overshoots
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
myanmar:
Fine enforced; mandatory use
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
myanmar:
Fines for usage while driving
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
myanmar:
Fines applied for violations
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
myanmar:
Possible; else must be paid at office
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations