I was flipped the keys to the company truck, and while cutting my teeth on the Panamanian jungle of roadways I made a few discoveries, the most important being the use of the car horn.
In Panama, the car horn plays a HUGE role in driver etiquette and survival.
The Happy Horn 1: This is a cheerful “I want to be your friend” little toot of the horn, usually accompanied by a smile and a happy wave.
The Happy Horn 2: Panamanian cab drivers have mastered this one – they use it every time approach a pedestrian – an effective marketing plan.
The Toot-Toot Horn 1: Use this when entering an intersection – you never know what’s waiting around the corner!
The Toot-Toot Horn 2: Use this when you move into the lane beside another car – the driver at your side might not see you!
Laying on the Horn 1: Don’t take it personally, but if you disregard one of the points of Panamanian driving etiquette, you’ll promptly hear a good Samaritan doing their civic duty: laying on their horn and frantically waving their arms at you. You can do this too; go ahead and lay on the horn if someone stalls their car in front of you, maybe to drop a friend off… a great stress reliever!
Laying on the Horn 2: When you’re driving in rush-hour traffic, this comes in handy. Lay on the horn if someone tries nosing their way into your spot! This lets them know that you are on to their sly little maneuver.
Laying on the Horn 3: The get-out-of-my-way horn used to warn a leaper (pedestrian) trying to cross without a crosswalk.
Laying on the Horn 4: Why signal when you can honk?
LESSON LEARNED: When you are driving in Panama, don’t be shy and do use your horn. This is part of the culture and is the best way to ensure your safety and the safety of those around you… and for those of us that do not speak Spanish, the language of horn honking is universal – and so much easier to learn!
Happy travels!
TAGS: Culture Panama Panama City Travel
Hello. Great job, if I wasn’t so busy with my school work I read your full site. Thanks!