Driving in Panama vs. Taiwan: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the diverse landscapes of Panama and Taiwan, understanding their distinct vehicular regulations is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. From varying speed limits to unique lane usage, these nations exhibit significant contrasts in driving culture. By familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances, you can navigate abroad with confidence and enhance your overall travel experience.
Lanes
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles and scooters. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants during peak times |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
taiwan:
Reserved for buses; taxis and motorcycles sometimes allowed during specific times.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
taiwan:
Labeled 'BUS' or '公交專用道'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
taiwan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
taiwan:
Exclusive for bicycles and scooters.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
taiwan:
Bicycle and scooter symbols, often colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
panama:
No
taiwan:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
taiwan:
Minimum two or more occupants during peak times
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-90 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, fines can be issued on the spot |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
taiwan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
taiwan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
taiwan:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
taiwan:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
taiwan:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
taiwan:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
taiwan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
taiwan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
taiwan:
Yes, fines can be issued on the spot
Signals
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Taiwan |
| 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 | Mandarin; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
taiwan:
Not used in Taiwan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
taiwan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
taiwan:
Mandarin; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
taiwan:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
taiwan:
Generally allowed unless a sign prohibits them
Documentation
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, periodic inspections mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| 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
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
taiwan:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
taiwan:
Yes, periodic inspections mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
taiwan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Frequent use in busy areas |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
taiwan:
Frequent use in busy areas
Alcohol
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Heavy fines imposed |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fine |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
taiwan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
taiwan:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
taiwan:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
taiwan:
Heavy fines imposed
Test Refusal
panama:
Can result in license suspension
taiwan:
Can result in license suspension and fine
Emergency Services
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | Varies by district; inquire locally |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Available via insurance or specialized companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
taiwan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
taiwan:
Varies by district; inquire locally
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
taiwan:
Available via insurance or specialized companies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
taiwan:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Taiwan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Steep fines, possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | NT$1,500, points in some cases |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | NT$2,700, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
taiwan:
Varies; NT$1,600 to NT$6,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
taiwan:
Steep fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
taiwan:
NT$1,500, points in some cases
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
taiwan:
NT$1,500 to NT$3,000, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
taiwan:
NT$2,700, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
taiwan:
Possible; fines can sometimes be paid immediately