Driving in Panama vs. Samoa: Key Safety Differences
When comparing the road regulations of Panama and Samoa, distinct contrasts emerge that significantly impact vehicular navigation. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and safety protocols, understanding these nuances is essential for ensuring secure travel abroad. Explore the key distinctions to enhance your driving experience in these unique countries.
Lanes
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
panama:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
samoa:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
samoa:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
samoa:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
samoa:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
samoa:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
samoa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
samoa:
Yes
Signals
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Samoa |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
samoa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Annual inspection required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
samoa:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common |
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
samoa:
Common
Roundabouts
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 685-22-222 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
samoa:
685-22-222
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
samoa:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards