Driving in the Netherlands vs. Panama: Key Differences

Discover the distinct driving landscapes of the Netherlands and Panama, where road regulations and practices vary significantly. From lane markings to speed limits, this comparison reveals critical insights into vehicular navigation and road safety, ensuring a smoother experience for travelers. Understanding these contrasts is vital for anyone journeying between these two unique nations.

netherlandspanama

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in netherlands is 90

2.05 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for netherlands is 2.05 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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	Netherlands	Panama
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.	Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.	Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

netherlands:

Not commonly used in the Netherlands, replaced by solid white lines on the road edges.

panama:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

netherlands:

Not typically used; centerlines are usually white.

panama:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Bus Lanes: Markings

netherlands:

Labeled 'BUS', 'LIJNBUS' or 'TAXI'; often with road signs.

panama:

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

Cycle Lanes: Presence

netherlands:

Yes

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Markings

netherlands:

Bicycle symbols and often distinct red coloring.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

netherlands:

N/A

panama:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

netherlands:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

netherlands:

Electronic signs display current limits.

panama:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Netherlands	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	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	100-130 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

netherlands:

50 km/h

panama:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

netherlands:

30 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

netherlands:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

netherlands:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

netherlands:

80 km/h

panama:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

netherlands:

100-130 km/h

panama:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

netherlands:

80-100 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

netherlands:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

netherlands:

Electronic signs display current limits

panama:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

netherlands:

Yes, but fines are often mailed after citation

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Netherlands	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Netherlands	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	Dutch; symbols are standard	Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

netherlands:

Not used in Netherlands

panama:

Not used in Panama

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

netherlands:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Traffic Signs: Language

netherlands:

Dutch; symbols are standard

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Turns

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	Netherlands		Panama
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed unless a green arrow is present		Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs		Varies by location; check for signs

Right Turn On Red

netherlands:

Not allowed unless a green arrow is present

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

netherlands:

Usually prohibited unless explicitly allowed by signs

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Netherlands	Panama
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit	International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Periodic technical inspection required	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	No sticker used; information in vehicle registration	Displayed on windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

netherlands:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not necessary

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

netherlands:

Accepted for up to 185 days if accompanied by an International Driving Permit

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

netherlands:

Periodic technical inspection required

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

netherlands:

No sticker used; information in vehicle registration

panama:

Displayed on windshield

Road Etiquette

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	Netherlands		Panama
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm	Less frequent use compared to some countries		Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

netherlands:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Alcohol

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	Netherlands	Panama
Limits: General Drivers	0.05%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.02%	0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

netherlands:

0.05%

panama:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

netherlands:

0.02%

panama:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

netherlands:

0.02%

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

netherlands:

Common; checkpoints used

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Enforcement: Fines

netherlands:

Can be substantial, and may lead to license suspension

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

Roundabouts

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	Netherlands		Panama
Signaling: Entering	No signal required unless exiting immediately		Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Signaling: Entering

netherlands:

No signal required unless exiting immediately

panama:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

Emergency Services

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	Netherlands	Panama
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	Call 112 for police assistance	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or ANWB	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Contact: General Emergency

netherlands:

112

panama:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

netherlands:

Call 112 for police assistance

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

netherlands:

Check with your insurance provider or ANWB

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Penalties And Fines

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	Netherlands	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; can be significant, points on license	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, points on license	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, points on license	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply, points on license	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline	Varies; payment within specified period required	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

netherlands:

Varies; can be significant, points on license

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

netherlands:

Fines apply, points on license

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

netherlands:

Fines apply, points on license

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

netherlands:

Fines apply, points on license

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

netherlands:

Possible; fines also typically paid online or by mail

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Payment: Deadline

netherlands:

Varies; payment within specified period required

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay