Driving Safety: Norway vs. Panama Explained

When navigating the roads of Norway and Panama, distinct regulations and practices shape the driving experience. From speed limits to lane markings, key disparities emerge, such as Norway's strict vehicle occupancy rules and Panama's more relaxed approach to overtaking. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either nation.

norwaypanama

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in norway is 96

1.912 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for norway is 1.912 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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	Norway	Panama
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.	Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Not standard in Norway.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right	Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes	Yes, in some urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two or more occupants	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

norway:

Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.

panama:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

norway:

Not standard in Norway.

panama:

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

Overtaking: On Right

norway:

Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.

panama:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

norway:

Yes

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

Cycle Lanes: Markings

norway:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

norway:

Yes

panama:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

norway:

Minimum two or more occupants

panama:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

norway:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

norway:

Electronic signs display current limits.

panama:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Norway	Panama
Urban Areas: Standard	30-50 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	90-110 km/h	100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90-100 km/h	80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80 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	Common

Urban Areas: Standard

norway:

30-50 km/h

panama:

40-60 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

norway:

30 km/h

panama:

25-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

norway:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

norway:

80 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

norway:

80 km/h

panama:

70-80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

norway:

90-110 km/h

panama:

100-120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

norway:

90-100 km/h

panama:

80-100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

norway:

80 km/h

panama:

70-90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

norway:

Yes

panama:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

norway:

Electronic signs display current limits

panama:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

norway:

Yes

panama:

Common

Signals

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	Norway	Panama
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Norway	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	Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places	Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with red border	Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

norway:

Not used in Norway

panama:

Not used in Panama

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

norway:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

Traffic Signs: Language

norway:

Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

norway:

Triangular-shaped with red border

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

Turns

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	Norway		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

norway:

Not allowed

panama:

Generally not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

norway:

Varies by locality; check for signs

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

Documentation

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	Norway	Panama
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted with a national driving license	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
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, periodic inspection required	Mandatory every two years for new cars
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	None	Displayed on windshield

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

norway:

Accepted with a national driving license

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

norway:

International Driving Permit recommended

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

norway:

Yes, periodic inspection required

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

norway:

None

panama:

Displayed on windshield

Road Etiquette

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

Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm

norway:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

panama:

Frequent use, especially in urban areas

Alcohol

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	Norway	Panama
Limits: General Drivers	0.02%	0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00% (zero tolerance)
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used frequently	Common, especially during weekends
Enforcement: Fines	High fines and possible license revocation	Varies; can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

norway:

0.02%

panama:

0.08%

Limits: Professional Drivers

norway:

0.02%

panama:

0.04%

Limits: Underage Drivers

norway:

0.00%; zero tolerance

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

Enforcement: Random Checks

norway:

Common; checkpoints used frequently

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

Enforcement: Fines

norway:

High fines and possible license revocation

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

Emergency Services

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	Norway	Panama
Contact: General Emergency	112	911
Contact: Traffic Police	02800	104
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or NAF	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Contact: General Emergency

norway:

112

panama:

911

Contact: Traffic Police

norway:

02800

panama:

104

Contact: Roadside Assistance

norway:

Check with your insurance provider or NAF

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

Penalties And Fines

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	Norway	Panama
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	1500 NOK	$25 to $75
Common Fines: Phone Use	1700 NOK	Varies; fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; substantial fines	$50 to $150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes, typically required	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

Common Fines: Speeding

norway:

Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

norway:

Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment

panama:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

norway:

1500 NOK

panama:

$25 to $75

Common Fines: Phone Use

norway:

1700 NOK

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

norway:

Varies; substantial fines

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

norway:

Yes, typically required

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations