Driving in Panama vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and safety practices between Panama and Tunisia. From speed limits to lane usage, each country showcases unique driving customs. Discover how overtaking rules, alcohol limits, and emergency procedures differ, ensuring you navigate the roads with confidence and awareness while abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| 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 |
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
tunisia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 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
tunisia:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
tunisia:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not typically used |
| 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 | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
tunisia:
Not typically used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
tunisia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Mandatory; proof may be 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
panama:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial; varies by offense |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
tunisia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Emergency Services
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay