Driving in Panama vs. Serbia: Key Differences Uncovered
Discover the essential contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between Panama and Serbia. From speed limits to lane markings, this comparison highlights significant distinctions that affect road safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure and smooth driving experience while navigating unfamiliar terrains in either country.
Lanes
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
serbia:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
serbia:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
serbia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
serbia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Serbia |
| 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 | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 may be required |
| 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 | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
serbia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay