Driving in the Bahamas vs. Brazil: Key Differences Explained
When comparing the driving landscapes of the Bahamas and Brazil, significant variations emerge that impact road safety and regulations. From driving on opposite sides to differing speed limits and protocols for emergency vehicles, understanding these distinctions is crucial for a secure driving experience abroad. Explore the essential contrasts to enhance your travel knowledge.
Lanes
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Not common. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | N/A | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | N/A | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
bahamas:
Left
brazil:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
bahamas:
Yes
brazil:
No
Overtaking: On Right
bahamas:
Not allowed.
brazil:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bahamas:
Use leftmost lane.
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
Not common.
brazil:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bahamas:
No
brazil:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25 mph | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 mph | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 45 mph | 60-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 45 mph | 60-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 45 mph | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | No highways | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | No highways | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | No highways | 80-100 km/h |
| Speed Units | mph | km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
bahamas:
25 mph
brazil:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bahamas:
25 mph
brazil:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
45 mph
brazil:
60-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
45 mph
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
45 mph
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bahamas:
No highways
brazil:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bahamas:
No highways
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bahamas:
No highways
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Speed Units
bahamas:
mph
brazil:
km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bahamas:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Signals
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used | Not used in Brazil |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bahamas:
Not used
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
Traffic Signs: Language
bahamas:
English; symbols are standard
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by location; check for signs | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it |
Right Turn On Red
bahamas:
Prohibited
brazil:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bahamas:
Varies by location; check for signs
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
Documentation
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles | Required every year for passenger vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield or license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bahamas:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bahamas:
Yes, annual inspections required for all vehicles
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bahamas:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory
brazil:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory
brazil:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bahamas:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in immediate license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bahamas:
0.08%
brazil:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bahamas:
0.05%
brazil:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bahamas:
0.00%; zero tolerance
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
bahamas:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bahamas:
Varies; can be substantial
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
Test Refusal
bahamas:
Can result in license suspension
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
Roundabouts
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
bahamas:
Signal left when preparing to exit
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 919 | 190 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 | 191 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory, but recommended | Recommended, especially at night |
Contact: General Emergency
bahamas:
919
brazil:
190
Contact: Traffic Police
bahamas:
911
brazil:
191
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bahamas:
Check with your insurance provider
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
brazil:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bahamas:
Not mandatory, but recommended
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
Penalties And Fines
| Bahamas | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; $50 to $500, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines with potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | $25 to $200, points may apply | Fines for all unrestrained passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | $50 to $300, points may apply | Fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | $100 to $500, points on license | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; can also be paid online or by mail | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; generally 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bahamas:
Varies; $50 to $500, points on license
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
Common Fines: Alcohol
bahamas:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bahamas:
$25 to $200, points may apply
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
bahamas:
$50 to $300, points may apply
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bahamas:
$100 to $500, points on license
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bahamas:
Yes; can also be paid online or by mail
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
Payment: Deadline
bahamas:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay