Driving in Panama vs Uganda: Key Safety Differences
When venturing abroad, understanding the driving landscape is crucial for a safe journey. This comparison between Panama and Uganda reveals significant contrasts, such as driving on the right versus the left side of the road, and variations in speed limits. Familiarizing yourself with these distinctions ensures a smoother and more secure travel experience.
Lanes
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks division of opposing traffic lanes. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Not allowed |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily for bicycles where available. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
Driving Side
panama:
Right
uganda:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
uganda:
Marks division of opposing traffic lanes.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
panama:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
uganda:
Used to separate lanes of opposing traffic; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
uganda:
Not allowed
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
panama:
Use rightmost lane.
uganda:
Use leftmost lane.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
uganda:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
uganda:
Primarily for bicycles where available.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
uganda:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Limited |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Signs indicate specific limits where applicable. |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Common; often enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
uganda:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
uganda:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
uganda:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
uganda:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
uganda:
Limited
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
uganda:
Signs indicate specific limits where applicable.
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
uganda:
Common; often enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Uganda |
| 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; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
uganda:
Not used in Uganda
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
uganda:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
uganda:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
uganda:
Sometimes diamond-shaped, backgrounds may vary
Turns
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed where not prohibited by signage |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
uganda:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
uganda:
Allowed where not prohibited by signage
Documentation
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Mandatory annual inspection |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on vehicle windshield |
| 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
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
uganda:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
uganda:
Mandatory annual inspection
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
uganda:
Displayed on vehicle windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Frequent use in certain situations |
| 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
uganda:
Frequent use in certain situations
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
uganda:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Implemented with checkpoints |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
uganda:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
uganda:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance applies
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
uganda:
Implemented with checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
uganda:
Fines can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Available through local providers or insurance companies |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
uganda:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
uganda:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
uganda:
Available through local providers or insurance companies
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
uganda:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Uganda | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines and potential license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Common in some cases |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
uganda:
Varies; fines can be substantial, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
uganda:
Severe penalties including fines and possibly jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
uganda:
Fines may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
uganda:
Fines and potential license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
uganda:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
uganda:
Common in some cases
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
uganda:
Varies; pay by deadline indicated on ticket