Driving Safety: Panama vs Tanzania - Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Panama and Tanzania, drivers encounter distinct practices that shape their experiences. Key variances include driving on opposite sides of the road, unique speed limits, and differing protocols for emergency situations. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring safe travels and compliance with local regulations in each country.
Lanes
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; 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 dedicated lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
panama:
Yes
tanzania:
No
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tanzania:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
tanzania:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
tanzania:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
tanzania:
Yes
Signals
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Tanzania |
| 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 and Swahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
tanzania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
tanzania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Required annually |
| 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
tanzania:
Required annually
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Significant fines apply |
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Emergency Services
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Common |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
tanzania:
Common