Driving in Panama vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
Embarking on a journey through Panama or Romania? Understanding the unique driving regulations and road customs of each country is vital for a safe experience. From speed limits to emergency protocols, this comparison reveals significant distinctions that can impact your safety on the road. Discover essential insights to navigate with confidence in both locales.
Lanes
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
romania:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
panama:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist