Driving Differences: Panama vs. Venezuela Explained
Driving in Panama and Venezuela presents unique contrasts that are essential for ensuring road safety abroad. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and documentation requirements. While both countries enforce specific regulations, the nuances in their traffic norms can significantly impact your travel experience. Understanding these variations is crucial for a safe journey.
Lanes
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some urban areas | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Bus Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Cycle Lanes: Presence
panama:
Yes, in some urban areas
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
panama:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
panama:
Bicycle symbols and often separated by barriers.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
panama:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 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 | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-120 km/h | 80-120 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
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
panama:
25-30 km/h
venezuela:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
panama:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
panama:
70-80 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
panama:
100-120 km/h
venezuela:
80-120 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
panama:
N/A
venezuela:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
panama:
Common
venezuela:
Yes
Signals
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Panama | Not used |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
panama:
Not used in Panama
venezuela:
Not used
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
panama:
Unnecessary use discouraged, especially in urban areas
venezuela:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Warning
panama:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Generally not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
panama:
Generally not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
panama:
Varies by location; check for signs
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory every two years for new cars | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield | Displayed on the 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
panama:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short stays
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
panama:
Mandatory every two years for new cars
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
panama:
Displayed on windshield
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use, especially in urban areas | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
panama:
Frequent use, especially in urban areas
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
panama:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
panama:
0.00% (zero tolerance)
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
panama:
Common, especially during weekends
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
panama:
Varies; can be substantial
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 104 | 171 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
panama:
104
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
panama:
Contact insurance provider or services like Autorama
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
panama:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Panama | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $150, points on license | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $75 | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Varies; fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $50 to $150, points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations | Yes, sometimes possible |
Common Fines: Speeding
panama:
Varies; $50 to $150, points on license
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
panama:
$25 to $75
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
panama:
Varies; fines and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
panama:
$50 to $150, points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
panama:
Rare; fines usually paid at designated locations
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible