Driving Differences: Panama vs South Africa Explained
Exploring the roads of Panama and South Africa reveals striking disparities in traffic regulations and road etiquette. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Stay informed to navigate the unique challenges each country presents and drive safely abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | Allowed |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited unless turning. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring. |
| 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: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
south africa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south africa:
Marks the right edge on roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
south africa:
Used to demarcate lanes on certain roads.
Overtaking: On Left
panama:
Yes
south africa:
Allowed
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
south africa:
Prohibited unless turning.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
south africa:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
south africa:
Reserved for buses; marked with road signs and lane markings.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
south africa:
May include the word 'BUS' and specific coloring.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
south africa:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
south africa:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes, common in South Africa |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
south africa:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
south africa:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
south africa:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
south africa:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
south africa:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
south africa:
Yes, common in South Africa
Signals
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in South Africa |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
south africa:
Not used in South Africa
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
south africa:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
south africa:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south africa:
Triangular shape with a red border
Turns
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at designated places; check for signs. |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
south africa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
south africa:
Allowed at designated places; check for signs.
Documentation
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Not applicable |
| 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
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
south africa:
Accepted if driving temporarily; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
south africa:
Required when transferring ownership or relicensing a vehicle
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
south africa:
Not applicable
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south africa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
south africa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common; roadblocks are used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies based on offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and additional fines |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
south africa:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
south africa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
south africa:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
south africa:
Common; roadblocks are used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
south africa:
Substantial; varies based on offense
Test Refusal
panama:
Can result in license suspension
south africa:
Can result in license suspension and additional fines
Roundabouts
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
south africa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 or 10111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | Call general emergency number |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA) |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
south africa:
112 or 10111
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
south africa:
Call general emergency number
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
south africa:
Check with your insurance provider or the Automobile Association of South Africa (AASA)
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
south africa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | South africa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Common fine; mandatory use |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Yes, common with road checkpoints |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
south africa:
Varies; substantial fines depending on excess speed
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
south africa:
Common fine; mandatory use
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable, varies by local ordinance
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
south africa:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
south africa:
Yes, common with road checkpoints
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
south africa:
Varies depending on violation; typically 30 days to pay