Driving Differences: Barbados vs. Brazil Safety Tips
When traversing the roads of Barbados and Brazil, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a secure journey. Key distinctions include driving on the left in Barbados versus the right in Brazil, and varied speed limits that reflect each nation’s traffic culture. Equip yourself with this knowledge to navigate safely and confidently abroad.
Lanes
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used in Barbados. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | 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
barbados:
Left
brazil:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
barbados:
Not commonly used in Barbados.
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
barbados:
Allowed
brazil:
No
Overtaking: On Right
barbados:
Usually restricted, as traffic typically keeps left.
brazil:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
barbados:
Use leftmost lane.
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
brazil:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
barbados:
No
brazil:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 20-40 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 60-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Possible in some cases | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
barbados:
20-40 km/h
brazil:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
barbados:
20 km/h
brazil:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
60 km/h
brazil:
60-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
barbados:
60 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
60 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
barbados:
80 km/h
brazil:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
barbados:
80 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
barbados:
80 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
barbados:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
barbados:
Possible in some cases
brazil:
Yes
Signals
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Barbados | Not used in Brazil |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
barbados:
Not used in Barbados
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
Traffic Signs: Language
barbados:
English; symbols are standard
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, follow traffic signals | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it |
Right Turn On Red
barbados:
Not allowed, follow traffic signals
brazil:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
barbados:
Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
Documentation
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Usually not required for non-residents | Required every year for passenger vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | N/A for non-resident vehicles | 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
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
barbados:
International Driving Permit recommended
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
barbados:
Usually not required for non-residents
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
barbados:
N/A for non-resident vehicles
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory
brazil:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory
brazil:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
barbados:
Use may be more frequent than in some countries, but typically for warnings
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
barbados:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Less common; checkpoints can be used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial fines for offenses | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in immediate license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
barbados:
0.08%
brazil:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
barbados:
0.04%
brazil:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
barbados:
0.02%; zero tolerance for underage drinking and driving
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
barbados:
Less common; checkpoints can be used
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
barbados:
Substantial fines for offenses
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
Test Refusal
barbados:
Can result in license suspension
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
Roundabouts
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
barbados:
Signal left when preparing to exit
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
barbados:
Use for subsequent exits, move to the right lane before the exit when safe
brazil:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 211 or 911 | 190 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 211 | 191 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local services | 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
barbados:
211 or 911
brazil:
190
Contact: Traffic Police
barbados:
211
brazil:
191
Contact: Roadside Assistance
barbados:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
brazil:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
barbados:
Not mandatory, but recommended
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
Penalties And Fines
| Barbados | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Substantial fines, possible jail time | High fines with potential imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for not wearing seatbelts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible in some cases | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically have a time frame to pay | Varies; generally 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
barbados:
Typically imposed based on the degree of excess speed
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
Common Fines: Alcohol
barbados:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
barbados:
Fines for not wearing seatbelts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
barbados:
Fines for using phones without hands-free devices while driving
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
barbados:
Possible in some cases
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
Payment: Deadline
barbados:
Varies; typically have a time frame to pay
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay