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.

panamasamoa

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in panama is 79

0.933 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for panama is 0.933 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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	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:

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:

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:

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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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

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	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