Driving in Panama vs Sri Lanka: Key Safety Differences
Explore the unique road regulations and driving customs of Panama and Sri Lanka, two countries with distinct approaches to vehicular navigation. From lane usage to speed limits, discover how Panama's right-side driving contrasts with Sri Lanka's left, ensuring a safer journey abroad while embracing diverse driving cultures.
Lanes
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses. |
| 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 | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
panama:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
sri lanka:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
sri lanka:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
panama:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
sri lanka:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | 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
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 119 or contact local police |
| 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: General Emergency
panama:
911
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot