BrazilBrazil

Drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Normally overtake on the left. Passing on the right is permitted in limited situations, such as when the vehicle ahead is positioned to turn left.

Call 190 for the Military Police, 192 for SAMU emergency medical assistance and 193 for the Fire Department. On federal highways, the Federal Highway Police (PRF) can be contacted on 191.

Brazil applies a zero-alcohol policy. The CTB provides that any alcohol concentration can subject a driver to drink-driving penalties, subject to the technical measurement tolerances used in enforcement. The safest rule is therefore do not drink before driving.

The CTB provides a criminal threshold of 0.3 mg of alcohol per litre of alveolar air or 6 decigrams per litre of blood, and impairment can also be established through other legally accepted evidence. Measurement tolerances apply when an evidential breathalyser is used.

Where no regulatory speed sign is present, the CTB sets defaults according to road class: 80 km/h on urban express roads, 60 km/h on arterial roads, 40 km/h on collector roads and 30 km/h on local roads.

On a paved rural highway with divided carriageways and no different posted limit, the maximum is 110 km/h for cars, motorcycles, pickup trucks and similar light vehicles, and 90 km/h for other vehicles.

On a paved single-carriageway rural highway without a different posted limit, the maximum is 100 km/h for cars, motorcycles, pickup trucks and similar light vehicles, and 90 km/h for other vehicles.

The CTB defines an estrada as an unpaved rural road. Where no other limit is signed, the maximum is 60 km/h.

Yes. The authority responsible for the road may establish higher or lower signed limits according to the road's characteristics and traffic conditions. The posted limit takes precedence.

As a general rule, the minimum speed must not be less than half of the applicable maximum speed, taking account of traffic and road conditions.

No. Brazil has no nationwide road vignette. Tolls are charged only on particular concessioned highways and facilities.

Payment depends on the concession. Brazil uses both conventional toll plazas and electronic Free Flow tolling. Free Flow gantries identify vehicles using electronic tags or number plates, and drivers without a tag can pay through official concessionaire channels.

Free Flow is barrier-free electronic tolling: vehicles pass beneath a gantry without stopping, and the system identifies a tag or reads the registration plate so the applicable toll can be collected electronically.

Yes. Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts on roads throughout Brazil, subject only to specific regulated exceptions.

Yes. Children under 10 years old who have not reached 1.45 metres in height must generally travel in the rear seat using a restraint appropriate to their age, weight and height, subject to specific vehicle-related exceptions.

Yes. Both the motorcycle rider and passenger must wear a safety helmet. Riders must also comply with the rules concerning visors or protective eyewear.

A motorcycle may not carry a child under 10 years old, or a person who is otherwise unable in the circumstances to take care of their own safety.

Yes. Motorcycles, scooters and mopeds must use their dipped headlight during both day and night.

Cars must use dipped headlights during the day in tunnels and during rain, fog or mist. Vehicles without daytime running lights must also use dipped headlights during the day on single-carriageway highways outside urban areas.

Driving while holding or handling a mobile phone is prohibited. The CTB also restricts driving while using a phone or headphones connected to audio equipment.

If one traffic stream is on a highway, traffic already on that highway has priority. At a roundabout, circulating traffic has priority. In other otherwise uncontrolled intersections, give way to the vehicle approaching from your right.

A driver entering a roundabout must give way to vehicles already circulating in it, unless traffic signals or signs establish another arrangement.

Yes. Pedestrians already crossing on a marked pedestrian crossing have priority. Where signals control the crossing, pedestrians who began crossing lawfully retain priority until they have completed the crossing.

Only where specific traffic signage permits the right turn on red. The presence of a red signal by itself does not create a general right-turn-on-red permission.

Yes. On roads with several lanes in the same direction, the right-hand lanes are generally for slower and larger vehicles, while the left lanes are principally used for overtaking and faster traffic.

You must give priority to emergency vehicles operating in an emergency with the required audible and flashing-light signals. Do not obstruct them or follow closely behind them to take advantage of their passage.

A driver must leave at least 1.5 metres of lateral distance when passing or overtaking a bicycle.

No. The horn should be used only briefly when necessary to avoid danger or, outside urban areas, to warn another driver of an intention to overtake.

Brazilian vehicle-equipment rules require a portable emergency warning device, normally the safety triangle. PRF also advises motorists to check required equipment such as the spare tyre, jack and wheel wrench where applicable before travelling.

Activate the hazard lights and warn approaching traffic. When a vehicle is immobilised in an emergency, the safety triangle or equivalent warning device should normally be placed at least 30 metres behind the vehicle, with additional distance used where visibility requires it.

A driver licensed abroad and covered by an applicable international convention, agreement or reciprocity arrangement may generally drive in Brazil for up to 180 days from entry into the country, provided the foreign licence remains valid and the required documents are carried.

The document requirements depend on the international arrangement covering the foreign licence. Under the current rules, drivers covered by the 1968 Vienna Convention should carry the International Driving Permit together with the valid foreign licence, identification and proof of their date of entry into Brazil. Other bilateral or international agreements can establish different requirements.

Heavy rainfall can cause flooding, landslides, falling debris and road closures in susceptible areas. Reduce speed, increase following distance and never enter floodwater when its depth or the condition of the road underneath is uncertain.

Brazil uses nationally standardised traffic signs, with internationally recognisable symbols and written legends primarily in Portuguese.