Nigeria vs Panama: Key Driving Differences You Must Know
Discover the distinct road regulations of Nigeria and Panama, two countries with unique driving cultures. From lane markings to speed limits, key discrepancies emerge, such as Nigeria's cautious approach to overtaking versus Panama's more structured lane usage. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey abroad.
Lanes
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used as a divider on major roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Only where permitted and safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane where applicable. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
nigeria:
Used as a divider on major roads.
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
nigeria:
Not commonly used; overtaking may be allowed on overtaking lanes.
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
nigeria:
Only where permitted and safe.
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
nigeria:
Use rightmost lane where applicable.
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
nigeria:
Reserved mainly for BRT buses in certain cities.
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
nigeria:
May be labeled 'BRT' or demarcated with other markers; signs often indicate lanes.
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
nigeria:
No
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Usage
nigeria:
Bicycles and motorbikes often share roads with cars.
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
nigeria:
N/A
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
nigeria:
Not applicable
panama:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nigeria:
Not commonly used
panama:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 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 | 70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Rare, mostly manual enforcement | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Common |
Urban Areas: Standard
nigeria:
30-50 km/h
panama:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
nigeria:
20-30 km/h
panama:
25-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
nigeria:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
nigeria:
80 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
nigeria:
70 km/h
panama:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
nigeria:
100 km/h
panama:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
nigeria:
90 km/h
panama:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
nigeria:
80 km/h
panama:
70-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
nigeria:
Not commonly used
panama:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
nigeria:
Rare, mostly manual enforcement
panama:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
nigeria:
Yes, common practice
panama:
Common
Signals
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to other road users | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used | Not used in Panama |
| Horn Usage: Allowed | Often used to signal presence or warning | Only in cases to avoid accidents |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Discouraged at night in residential areas | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas |
| Horn Usage: Penalties | Rare but can apply for misuse | Fines may apply for misuse |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking |
| Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage | Not for other messages | Not to be used to signal other messages |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common in certain areas | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols can vary | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
nigeria:
Proceed with caution, yield to other road users
panama:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
nigeria:
Not commonly used
panama:
Not used in Panama
Horn Usage: Allowed
nigeria:
Often used to signal presence or warning
panama:
Only in cases to avoid accidents
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
nigeria:
Discouraged at night in residential areas
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
Horn Usage: Penalties
nigeria:
Rare but can apply for misuse
panama:
Fines may apply for misuse
Headlight Flash: Usage
nigeria:
To indicate overtaking or to warn other drivers
panama:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage
nigeria:
Not for other messages
panama:
Not to be used to signal other messages
Hand Signals: Common Usage
nigeria:
More common in certain areas
panama:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
nigeria:
English; symbols can vary
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
nigeria:
Triangular with red border
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed unless indicated | Generally not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
| Special Turn Lanes | Rarely marked | Yes, marked with arrows |
Right Turn On Red
nigeria:
Generally not allowed unless indicated
panama:
Generally not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
nigeria:
Varies by locality; check for signs
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
Special Turn Lanes
nigeria:
Rarely marked
panama:
Yes, marked with arrows
Documentation
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays |
| Insurance | Third party insurance mandatory | Liability insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual vehicle inspection required | Mandatory every two years for new cars |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
nigeria:
International Driving Permit recommended
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
Insurance
nigeria:
Third party insurance mandatory
panama:
Liability insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
nigeria:
Yes, annual vehicle inspection required
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
nigeria:
Displayed on the vehicle
panama:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nigeria:
Not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Misuse | Discouraged | Discouraged, fines may apply |
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic |
| Lane Courtesy: Blocking | Discouraged and can lead to fines | Discouraged and may be penalized |
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Commonly used, but officially for emergencies | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, similar to some other countries | Frequent use, especially in urban areas |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Misuse
nigeria:
Discouraged
panama:
Discouraged, fines may apply
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
nigeria:
Sometimes observed, depending on traffic and location
panama:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
Lane Courtesy: Blocking
nigeria:
Discouraged and can lead to fines
panama:
Discouraged and may be penalized
Use Of Horn: Limited
nigeria:
Commonly used, but officially for emergencies
panama:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
nigeria:
Frequent use, similar to some other countries
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
Pedestrians Priority
nigeria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks, but may not be strictly enforced
panama:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
nigeria:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% (zero tolerance) |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Occasional roadblocks | Common, especially during weekends |
| Enforcement: Fines | Fines vary across states | Varies; can be substantial |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for repeated or severe offenses | Possible for severe offenses |
| Test Refusal | Likely to result in arrest or fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
nigeria:
0.05%
panama:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
nigeria:
0.02%
panama:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
nigeria:
0.00%; zero tolerance
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks
nigeria:
Occasional roadblocks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines
nigeria:
Fines vary across states
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
Enforcement: Imprisonment
nigeria:
Possible for repeated or severe offenses
panama:
Possible for severe offenses
Test Refusal
nigeria:
Likely to result in arrest or fines
panama:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Priority: Inside | Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes | Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly |
| Signaling: Entering | Signal appropriately when entering if turning | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Priority: Inside
nigeria:
Maintain lane, avoid abrupt lane changes
panama:
Maintain lane discipline, do not change lanes abruptly
Signaling: Entering
nigeria:
Signal appropriately when entering if turning
panama:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
nigeria:
Signal when preparing to exit
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
nigeria:
Use for subsequent exits
panama:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 or 199 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region; check local contact | 104 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended but not mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
nigeria:
112 or 199
panama:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
nigeria:
Varies by region; check local contact
panama:
104
Contact: Roadside Assistance
nigeria:
Check with your insurance provider
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
nigeria:
Recommended but not mandatory
panama:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Nigeria | Panama | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; fines and potential jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies | $25 to $75 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas | $50 to $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; usually with cash | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies by offense | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
nigeria:
Varies; can be heavy fine, often on-the-spot
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
nigeria:
Varies; fines and potential jail time
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
nigeria:
Fine for not wearing; enforcement varies
panama:
$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use
nigeria:
Fines apply; hands-free concept encouraged
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
nigeria:
Fines imposed; traffic light cameras in some areas
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
nigeria:
Common; usually with cash
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
Payment: Deadline
nigeria:
Varies by offense
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay