Driving in Panama vs. Thailand: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Panama and Thailand, drivers must be aware of distinct regulations and customs that shape their experiences. From lane usage to speed limits, these nations exhibit notable contrasts—such as driving on the right in Panama versus the left in Thailand. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Prohibited |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
thailand:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
thailand:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
thailand:
Yes
Signals
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Thailand |
| 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 | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
thailand:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
thailand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| 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
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| 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 | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
panama:
Can result in license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
panama:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
panama:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days