Driving Safety: Nepal vs Panama - Key Differences Explained
When comparing the road regulations of Nepal and Panama, notable distinctions emerge that are crucial for safe travel. Notably, Nepal drives on the left, while Panama adheres to the right. Additionally, speed limits and lane usage rules vary significantly, emphasizing the importance of understanding these contrasts to ensure a secure driving experience in both countries.
Lanes
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the edge of the road. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, with caution. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Keep left. | Use rightmost lane. |
| 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. |
Driving Side
nepal:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
nepal:
No
panama:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nepal:
Keep left.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
panama:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nepal:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nepal:
N/A
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nepal:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
Speeds Limits
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 50-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
nepal:
20-40 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nepal:
20-30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
50-80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nepal:
40-60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
40-60 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nepal:
80 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nepal:
60 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nepal:
60 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nepal:
No
panama:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nepal:
Yes, common practice
panama:
Common
Signals
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Nepal | 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 | Nepali and English | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
nepal:
Yellow
panama:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nepal:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
nepal:
Nepali and English
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nepal | 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
nepal:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required | 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 | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | 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 |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
nepal:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
nepal:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
nepal:
Can be substantial
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
panama:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 100 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 100 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nepal:
100
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
nepal:
100
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nepal | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes, common practice | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nepal:
Yes, common practice
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay