Driving in Belgium vs Brazil: Key Differences You Need
Exploring the nuances of road regulations between Belgium and Brazil unveils significant contrasts in traffic management and safety protocols. From lane markings to speed limits and enforcement styles, drivers must adapt to diverse rules. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads. | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply. | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
belgium:
Not commonly used; white lines are prevalent.
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
belgium:
Yes
brazil:
No
Overtaking: On Right
belgium:
Generally not allowed except in traffic queues or on multi-lane roads.
brazil:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
belgium:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis; specific hours may apply.
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
belgium:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
belgium:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
brazil:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits.
brazil:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 70-90 km/h | 60-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70-90 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | No; fines are mailed to the driver | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
belgium:
30-50 km/h
brazil:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
70-90 km/h
brazil:
60-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
belgium:
70-90 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
belgium:
120 km/h
brazil:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
belgium:
120 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
belgium:
90 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
belgium:
Yes
brazil:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
belgium:
Electronic signs display current limits
brazil:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
belgium:
No; fines are mailed to the driver
brazil:
Yes
Signals
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Yes; indicates impending green light | Not used in Brazil |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
belgium:
Yes; indicates impending green light
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
Traffic Signs: Language
belgium:
Dutch, French, German; symbols are standard
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
belgium:
Triangle-shaped with a red border and white or yellow background
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless specific signage permits | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it |
Right Turn On Red
belgium:
Not allowed unless specific signage permits
brazil:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
belgium:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
Documentation
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; national driving license sufficient | 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 | Yes; proof must be shown during police checks | Required every year for passenger vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield | Displayed on windshield or license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
belgium:
Accepted; national driving license sufficient
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
belgium:
International Driving Permit recommended
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
belgium:
Yes; proof must be shown during police checks
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
belgium:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
brazil:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; conducted by police | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by severity of offense | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in immediate license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
belgium:
0.05%
brazil:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
belgium:
0.02%
brazil:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
belgium:
0.00%; zero tolerance
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
belgium:
Common; conducted by police
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
belgium:
Varies by severity of offense
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
Test Refusal
belgium:
Can result in license suspension
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
Emergency Services
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 190 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 101 | 191 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended, especially at night |
Contact: General Emergency
belgium:
112
brazil:
190
Contact: Traffic Police
belgium:
101
brazil:
191
Contact: Roadside Assistance
belgium:
Check with your insurance provider or Europe Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
belgium:
Mandatory
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
Penalties And Fines
| Belgium | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension | 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 | Fine of around 50 EUR | Fines for all unrestrained passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses | Fines and points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines; points on license possible | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | No; fines usually mailed to the driver | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; generally 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
belgium:
Varies; fines increase with speed, and can include license suspension
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
Common Fines: Alcohol
belgium:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
belgium:
Fine of around 50 EUR
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
belgium:
Fine of around 100 EUR, increased for repeat offenses
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
belgium:
Fines; points on license possible
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
belgium:
No; fines usually mailed to the driver
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
Payment: Deadline
belgium:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay