Driving in Panama vs Trinidad and Tobago: Key Differences
Driving in Panama and Trinidad and Tobago presents unique challenges and regulations that every traveler should know. From distinct lane usage and speed limits to varying requirements for documentation, understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a safe journey. Explore how these countries differ in their road practices to navigate confidently and responsibly.
Lanes
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, when safe and permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Marked with signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
trinidad and tobago:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
trinidad and tobago:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
panama:
Yes
trinidad and tobago:
No
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
trinidad and tobago:
Yes, when safe and permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
trinidad and tobago:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
trinidad and tobago:
Reserved for buses and taxis during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
trinidad and tobago:
Marked with signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
trinidad and tobago:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
trinidad and tobago:
Primarily for bicycles; be cautious of motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30 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 | 65 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 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 | Common, officers may issue fines directly |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
65 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
trinidad and tobago:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
trinidad and tobago:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
trinidad and tobago:
Common, officers may issue fines directly
Signals
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Trinidad and Tobago |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged |
| Headlight Flash: Usage | To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking | To warn other drivers of your presence |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
trinidad and tobago:
Not used in Trinidad and Tobago
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
trinidad and tobago:
Unnecessary use discouraged
Headlight Flash: Usage
panama:
To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking
trinidad and tobago:
To warn other drivers of your presence
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
trinidad and tobago:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
trinidad and tobago:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
trinidad and tobago:
Not typically allowed in urban areas; check for signs
Documentation
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle |
| 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
trinidad and tobago:
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
trinidad and tobago:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
panama:
Liability insurance mandatory
trinidad and tobago:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
trinidad and tobago:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
trinidad and tobago:
Displayed on vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
trinidad and tobago:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Frequent use to communicate in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
panama:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
trinidad and tobago:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
trinidad and tobago:
Frequent use to communicate in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
trinidad and tobago:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common |
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
trinidad and tobago:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
trinidad and tobago:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
trinidad and tobago:
Common
Emergency Services
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 or 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 999 or use local police numbers |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
trinidad and tobago:
999 or 911
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
trinidad and tobago:
999 or use local police numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
trinidad and tobago:
Contact your insurance provider or the Automobile Association
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
trinidad and tobago:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Trinidad and tobago | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | TT$ 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | TT$ 1,500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | TT$ 2,000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15-30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; TT$ 500 and up, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 1,500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
trinidad and tobago:
TT$ 2,000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
trinidad and tobago:
Rare; fines usually paid in person or by mail
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
trinidad and tobago:
Varies; typically within 15-30 days