Driving in Panama vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
As you plan your journey abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is crucial for a safe experience. This comparison highlights significant distinctions between Panama and Vanuatu. From speed limits to lane usage and emergency protocols, grasping these variations will enhance your driving confidence and ensure your travels are smooth and secure.
Lanes
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| 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. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
panama:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
panama:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 70-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
panama:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
vanuatu:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-90 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
panama:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used in Vanuatu |
| 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 Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
vanuatu:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
panama:
Spanish; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but 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
vanuatu:
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
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
panama:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
vanuatu:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
panama:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% (zero tolerance) | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during weekends | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: General Drivers
panama:
0.08%
vanuatu:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
panama:
Can result in license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
panama:
911
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
panama:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Possible; or through police stations |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations