Driving Differences: New Zealand vs Panama Explained
Welcome to our comprehensive analysis of the driving landscape in New Zealand and Panama. While both nations have unique regulations, you'll find key distinctions, such as New Zealand's left-side driving versus Panama's right. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safety and compliance on the roads abroad.
Lanes
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | 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 | Reserved for buses during certain hours. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
new zealand:
Left
panama:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
new zealand:
Not applicable
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 25-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 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 | No; fines are usually mailed after citation | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
new zealand:
50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
new zealand:
50 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
new zealand:
100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
new zealand:
100 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
new zealand:
90 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
new zealand:
Yes
panama:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
panama:
Common
Signals
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in New Zealand | Not used in Panama |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
panama:
Not used in Panama
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
panama:
Signal when exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
new zealand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Traffic Signs: Language
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Turns
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
new zealand:
Not allowed
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| New zealand | 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or 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
new zealand:
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
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
new zealand:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Pedestrians Priority
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
panama:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines, can vary widely | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and other penalties | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
new zealand:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
new zealand:
0.00%
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
panama:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
panama:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Emergency Services
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 111 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 111 | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) | 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: General Emergency
new zealand:
111
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
new zealand:
111
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| New zealand | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $150, points may also apply | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $150, points on license | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually paid online or by mail | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 28 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
new zealand:
$150, points on license
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay