Well, here is a reader's opinion that appeared in a local newspaper out of frustration. It was written by Juan Navarro Brin
When you see the "No Parking" sign, ignore it. It was valid for a few days many years ago but nobody pays attention to that.
If you cannot find a parking place near the place where you need to go, park your car alongside another parked car (double row). It may happen that in doing that you obstruct the free transit or that the owner of the other car cannot get out of his/her parking place anymore and gets very angry. But don't worry, no policeman is going to give you a ticket anyway.
When you finally do get to park your car, it is probable that somebody comes to you to say "bien cuidado jefe" ("I will take good care of it boss"). This is very well developed protection system in the capital. Just make a gesture of approval because otherwise you may find a new "defect" in your car when you come back. Upon return, you should give him a 25 cent coin (quarter) to the 'care taker'.
If it happens that when you are driving on the street, you notice that:
A group of people are protesting on the street and the desperate drivers are coming on the wrong way.
This is the right way but the wrong time of the day.
You are on the wrong side of the road but there were absolutely no signs to indicate that.
Verify the direction of the traffic before entering a road because the signs are supposed to tell you that are not in all corners.
If you are trying to enter an avenue or principal road, do not wait until someone yields way, simply move the frontal part of your car into it little by little until somebody, more fearful than you lets you enter the flow.
When the road is congested and you see a narrow passage or the shoulder of the road, feel free to use it as a regular road but accelerate as much as you can because these are for rapid transit; specially for taxis. At the end of the passage you should act as recommended in the previous point to regain access to the road.
When traffic on your side of the road stops, keep yourself very close to the car in front of you and do not worry if you are now obstructing the transversal traffic (at the road crossing). The theory is that, if you cannot move why should the others be able to move?
If you feel the need to relief yourself (from a biologic need) and you are on the highway or road to the country side, do not worry about waiting for the next gas station. Just stop your vehicle on the side of the road and relief yourself. If on the other hand you are in the city, it is already customary to use an empty lot or the wall of a building and then returnining to your car without shame. Note: this section of the driving manual applies mainly to male drivers.
When you arrive to a major road crossing it is very probable that you find a relatively large number of persons approaching your car right in the middle of the road. Do not panic, they are selling a wide variety of small articles, from vegetables to electronic equipment. If you are not interested do not establish visual contact, nor make any movement that might imply that you like the merchandise; pretend that they do not exist. These merchants have developed a keen sense of marketing and perceive if you there is some interest on your part and would not get away from your window.
Before getting into a taxi, ask the conductor if he can transport you where you want to go. In Panama taxi drivers will take you only where they want to go; and if they do accept you, they will squeeze you in with other passengers.
The bus stops are also for public adverts and rainy moments; but the busses stop wherever they want and not necessarily on the bus stops. For your own safety (no kidding) avoid being on their path!.
If you have the misfortune of being involved in a traffic accident, it is absolutely certain that your visitor's visa will expire before the date of the trial. Plan another trip to Panama approximately six months later. But if the accident was with a bus then you have lost even if you win the trial.
Lets all go to PANAMA!
When you see the "No Parking" sign, ignore it. It was valid for a few days many years ago but nobody pays attention to that.
If you cannot find a parking place near the place where you need to go, park your car alongside another parked car (double row). It may happen that in doing that you obstruct the free transit or that the owner of the other car cannot get out of his/her parking place anymore and gets very angry. But don't worry, no policeman is going to give you a ticket anyway.
When you finally do get to park your car, it is probable that somebody comes to you to say "bien cuidado jefe" ("I will take good care of it boss"). This is very well developed protection system in the capital. Just make a gesture of approval because otherwise you may find a new "defect" in your car when you come back. Upon return, you should give him a 25 cent coin (quarter) to the 'care taker'.
If it happens that when you are driving on the street, you notice that:
A group of people are protesting on the street and the desperate drivers are coming on the wrong way.
This is the right way but the wrong time of the day.
You are on the wrong side of the road but there were absolutely no signs to indicate that.
Verify the direction of the traffic before entering a road because the signs are supposed to tell you that are not in all corners.
If you are trying to enter an avenue or principal road, do not wait until someone yields way, simply move the frontal part of your car into it little by little until somebody, more fearful than you lets you enter the flow.
When the road is congested and you see a narrow passage or the shoulder of the road, feel free to use it as a regular road but accelerate as much as you can because these are for rapid transit; specially for taxis. At the end of the passage you should act as recommended in the previous point to regain access to the road.
When traffic on your side of the road stops, keep yourself very close to the car in front of you and do not worry if you are now obstructing the transversal traffic (at the road crossing). The theory is that, if you cannot move why should the others be able to move?
If you feel the need to relief yourself (from a biologic need) and you are on the highway or road to the country side, do not worry about waiting for the next gas station. Just stop your vehicle on the side of the road and relief yourself. If on the other hand you are in the city, it is already customary to use an empty lot or the wall of a building and then returnining to your car without shame. Note: this section of the driving manual applies mainly to male drivers.
When you arrive to a major road crossing it is very probable that you find a relatively large number of persons approaching your car right in the middle of the road. Do not panic, they are selling a wide variety of small articles, from vegetables to electronic equipment. If you are not interested do not establish visual contact, nor make any movement that might imply that you like the merchandise; pretend that they do not exist. These merchants have developed a keen sense of marketing and perceive if you there is some interest on your part and would not get away from your window.
Before getting into a taxi, ask the conductor if he can transport you where you want to go. In Panama taxi drivers will take you only where they want to go; and if they do accept you, they will squeeze you in with other passengers.
The bus stops are also for public adverts and rainy moments; but the busses stop wherever they want and not necessarily on the bus stops. For your own safety (no kidding) avoid being on their path!.
If you have the misfortune of being involved in a traffic accident, it is absolutely certain that your visitor's visa will expire before the date of the trial. Plan another trip to Panama approximately six months later. But if the accident was with a bus then you have lost even if you win the trial.
Lets all go to PANAMA!
