I drive the roads of Panama daily. Frequently from Boquete to David and less frequently but it seems too often to Panama City. In my three years here the Interamerican Highway from David to Panama is always being repaired. Repaired is a good thing, but the highway is still a driving hazard.
My current rant is not about repairs, it is about the confusion caused by traffic signs, in particular the speed zones. The Interamerican varies from two lane from David to Santiago up to four lanes from Santiago to Panama City. The speed signs on the highway vary from 100, 80, 60 down to 40 KPH. The unsigned areas are tricky and even those with signs can be a bit confusing. The road is often devoid of Transitos (Traffic Police) but at times they set radar traps along the highway.
Each year I have been here I earned one traffic ticket. A few weeks ago for doing 83 KPM in a 60 KPM zone. The only issue I had with the stop was the lack of a sign. It has happened twice now, Suddenly in a 100 KPM zone a house appears and so can a Transito saying near houses the speed limit drops to 60 KPM.
Add to the speeding ticket option the fact that a Transito can if he chooses write a ticket for driving under the speed limit or even for not having the book of traffic regulations in your car. I have never been treated in anything but a professional manner by a Transito but the fines are high $50 for speeding and you do accumulate points and can lose your license.
This all brings back memories of driving in the US before the Interstate system when traffic stop revenue helped to fund many small town coffers. In the past these stops might have been a source of pocket revenue to the traffic officer, now I take the ticket. I have noticed that the traffic police are less willing to hint for a bribe since the administration changed in Panama.
I do not mind the drive to Panama City but I prefer to ride in a bus or fly to avoid the constant stress of impending traffic stops.
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