Driving Differences: Panama vs. Slovakia Explained

When navigating the roads of Panama and Slovakia, drivers encounter distinctive regulations and practices that impact safety and efficiency. Key differences include urban speed limits, alcohol consumption thresholds, and the presence of variable speed signs. Understanding these variations is crucial for a secure and enjoyable experience on foreign highways.

Lanes

	Panama	Slovakia
Cycle Lanes: Presence	Yes, in some urban areas	Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	No	Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	Electronic signs display current limits.

Cycle Lanes: Presence

panama:

Yes, in some urban areas

slovakia:

Yes

Cycle Lanes: Markings

panama:

Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.

slovakia:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

panama:

N/A

slovakia:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

panama:

slovakia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

panama:

N/A

slovakia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Speeds Limits

	Panama	Slovakia
Urban Areas: Standard	40-60 km/h	50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones	25-30 km/h	20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	80-100 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	90 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: 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

slovakia:

50 km/h

Urban Areas: Residential Zones

panama:

25-30 km/h

slovakia:

20-30 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

panama:

80-100 km/h

slovakia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

panama:

80-100 km/h

slovakia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

panama:

70-80 km/h

slovakia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

panama:

100-120 km/h

slovakia:

130 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

panama:

80-100 km/h

slovakia:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

panama:

70-90 km/h

slovakia:

90 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

panama:

slovakia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

panama:

N/A

slovakia:

Electronic signs display current limits.

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

panama:

Common

slovakia:

Yes

Signals

	Panama	Slovakia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Panama	Not used in Slovakia
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	Slovak; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangular-shaped with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

panama:

Not used in Panama

slovakia:

Not used in Slovakia

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

panama:

Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas

slovakia:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

Traffic Signs: Language

panama:

Spanish; symbols are standard

slovakia:

Slovak; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

panama:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

slovakia:

Triangular-shaped with red borders

Turns

	Panama	Slovakia
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

slovakia:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

panama:

Varies by location; check for signs

slovakia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

Documentation

	Panama	Slovakia
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 along with local license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory every two years for new cars	Mandatory and regular inspections required
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

slovakia:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

panama:

International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays

slovakia:

International Driving Permit required along with local license

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

panama:

Mandatory every two years for new cars

slovakia:

Mandatory and regular inspections required

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

panama:

Recommended

slovakia:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

	Panama	Slovakia
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

slovakia:

Less frequent use compared to some countries

Alcohol

	Panama	Slovakia
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; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines	Varies; can be substantial	Can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

panama:

0.08%

slovakia:

0.00%

Limits: Professional Drivers

panama:

0.04%

slovakia:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

panama:

0.00% (zero tolerance)

slovakia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

panama:

Common, especially during weekends

slovakia:

Common; checkpoints used frequently

Enforcement: Fines

panama:

Varies; can be substantial

slovakia:

Can be substantial

Emergency Services

	Panama	Slovakia
Contact: General Emergency	911	112
Contact: Traffic Police	104	158
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama	Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

panama:

911

slovakia:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

panama:

104

slovakia:

158

Contact: Roadside Assistance

panama:

Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama

slovakia:

Check with your insurance provider or Slovak Assistance Service

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

panama:

Recommended

slovakia:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

	Panama	Slovakia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; $50 to $150, points on license	Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible
Common Fines: Seat Belts	$25 to $75	€50 to €150, points in some regions
Common Fines: Phone Use	Varies; fines and points on license	€100 to €200, points in some regions
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	$50 to $150, points on license	€100 to €250, points on license possible
Payment: On The Spot	Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations	Common
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically 15 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

panama:

Varies; $50 to $150, points on license

slovakia:

Varies; €50 to €300, points on license possible

Common Fines: Seat Belts

panama:

$25 to $75

slovakia:

€50 to €150, points in some regions

Common Fines: Phone Use

panama:

Varies; fines and points on license

slovakia:

€100 to €200, points in some regions

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

panama:

$50 to $150, points on license

slovakia:

€100 to €250, points on license possible

Payment: On The Spot

panama:

Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations

slovakia:

Common

Payment: Deadline

panama:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

slovakia:

Varies; typically 15 days to pay