Driving in Panama vs. Saudi Arabia: Key Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Panama and Saudi Arabia. From lane designs and speed limits to alcohol policies and emergency contacts, this comparison reveals significant variations that can impact your travel experience. Whether navigating urban streets or rural highways, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring safe journeys abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
saudi arabia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
saudi arabia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
saudi arabia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
saudi arabia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
panama:
No
saudi arabia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
saudi arabia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
saudi arabia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
100-120 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
saudi arabia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
saudi arabia:
120-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
saudi arabia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
saudi arabia:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
saudi arabia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
saudi arabia:
Rare; fines are usually mailed or sent via SMS
Signals
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Saudi Arabia |
| 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 | Arabic; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
saudi arabia:
Not used in Saudi Arabia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
saudi arabia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
saudi arabia:
Arabic; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
saudi arabia:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
saudi arabia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection |
| 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
saudi arabia:
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
saudi arabia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
saudi arabia:
Mandatory periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
saudi arabia:
Displayed on the vehicle after successful inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Frequent use for communication on the road |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
saudi arabia:
Frequent use for communication on the road
Alcohol
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common, random checkpoints are used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; possible imprisonment |
| Enforcement: Imprisonment | Possible for severe offenses | Frequent for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
saudi arabia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
saudi arabia:
Common, random checkpoints are used
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
saudi arabia:
Substantial; possible imprisonment
Enforcement: Imprisonment
panama:
Possible for severe offenses
saudi arabia:
Frequent for offenses
Test Refusal
panama:
Can result in license suspension
saudi arabia:
Can result in immediate license suspension and further penalties
Emergency Services
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 993 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
saudi arabia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
saudi arabia:
993
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
saudi arabia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
saudi arabia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Saudi arabia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines imposed |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines imposed, typically SAR 500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
saudi arabia:
Varies; SAR 300 to SAR 3,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines, imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
saudi arabia:
Fines imposed, typically SAR 500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
saudi arabia:
Substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
saudi arabia:
Not typical; usually paid online or via bank transfer