Driving Differences: Panama vs. United Arab Emirates
When comparing driving practices in Panama and the United Arab Emirates, several notable distinctions emerge. From lane usage to speed limits, each country's regulations reflect its unique road culture. Notably, the UAE enforces stricter alcohol policies and employs variable speed limits, while Panama showcases a more relaxed approach in urban areas. Understanding these variations is key to ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on some roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 6 |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled and usually marked by road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes, in some areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
panama:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
united arab emirates:
Marks the left edge on some roads.
Overtaking: On Right
panama:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
united arab emirates:
Allowed on multilane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
panama:
List length: 5
united arab emirates:
List length: 6
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
united arab emirates:
Yes, in major cities like Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
united arab emirates:
Reserved for buses, taxis, and motorcycles in some areas.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
united arab emirates:
Labeled and usually marked by road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
united arab emirates:
Yes, primarily in urban areas and parks.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
united arab emirates:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
panama:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes, in some areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits, often in major urban areas and highways.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 100-140 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Less common; fines can be issued electronically |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
united arab emirates:
25-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
united arab emirates:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-140 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
united arab emirates:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
united arab emirates:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
panama:
No
united arab emirates:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
united arab emirates:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
united arab emirates:
Less common; fines can be issued electronically
Signals
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in UAE |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Arabic and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
united arab emirates:
Not used in UAE
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
united arab emirates:
Unnecessary use discouraged; especially in residential areas
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
united arab emirates:
Arabic and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
united arab emirates:
Triangular with red borders
Turns
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
united arab emirates:
Allowed unless specifically prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
united arab emirates:
Accepted with International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
united arab emirates:
Annual inspection required for vehicles older than 3 years
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
united arab emirates:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Road Etiquette
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Moderate use, not excessively |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
united arab emirates:
Moderate use, not excessively
Alcohol
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.0% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
united arab emirates:
0.0%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
united arab emirates:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
united arab emirates:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Emergency Services
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
united arab emirates:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
united arab emirates:
Varies by emirate; often integrates with general emergency
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
united arab emirates:
Check with your insurance provider or organizations like AAA
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | United arab emirates | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | AED 400, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | AED 800, 4 black points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | AED 1000, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Not typical; fines usually notified electronically |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
united arab emirates:
Varies; AED 300 to AED 3000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
panama:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
united arab emirates:
Severe penalties, including fines and potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
united arab emirates:
AED 400, 4 black points
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 800, 4 black points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
united arab emirates:
AED 1000, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
united arab emirates:
Not typical; fines usually notified electronically
Payment: Deadline
panama:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
united arab emirates:
Varies; typically 15-30 days to pay