Driving in Bhutan vs. Brazil: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Bhutan and Brazil, drivers face distinct regulations and practices. From varying speed limits to lane usage and alcohol consumption rules, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Discover how these two nations differ in their approach to road etiquette and safety measures.
Lanes
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| 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
bhutan:
Left
brazil:
Right
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bhutan:
Use leftmost lane.
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
brazil:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
Bus Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
bhutan:
No
brazil:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 40-60 km/h | 60-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 40-60 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 40-60 km/h | 60-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Up to 80 km/h | 80-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | Up to 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | Up to 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | No | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
bhutan:
30-50 km/h
brazil:
40-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bhutan:
20-30 km/h
brazil:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
brazil:
60-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
40-60 km/h
brazil:
60-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
brazil:
80-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bhutan:
Up to 80 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bhutan:
Up to 60 km/h
brazil:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bhutan:
N/A
brazil:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
bhutan:
No
brazil:
Yes
Signals
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bhutan | Not used in Brazil |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bhutan:
Not used in Bhutan
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
Traffic Signs: Language
bhutan:
English; symbols are standard
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Turns
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; check for signs | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it |
U- Turns Allowed
bhutan:
Restricted; check for signs
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
Documentation
| Bhutan | 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 | Annual vehicle inspection required | 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 | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
bhutan:
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
bhutan:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bhutan:
Annual vehicle inspection required
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
bhutan:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
brazil:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
brazil:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings | 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
bhutan:
Frequent use in rural areas, reduced in urban settings
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bhutan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common, especially during events | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial and imprisonment possible | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Results in immediate license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
bhutan:
0.08%
brazil:
0.04%
Limits: Professional Drivers
bhutan:
0.04%
brazil:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
bhutan:
0.00%
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
bhutan:
Common, especially during events
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bhutan:
Substantial and imprisonment possible
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
Test Refusal
bhutan:
Can result in license suspension
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
Emergency Services
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 113 | 190 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 113 | 191 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with local providers or vehicle insurance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended, not mandatory | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, not mandatory | Recommended, especially at night |
Contact: General Emergency
bhutan:
113
brazil:
190
Contact: Traffic Police
bhutan:
113
brazil:
191
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bhutan:
Check with local providers or vehicle insurance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
brazil:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bhutan:
Recommended, not mandatory
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
Penalties And Fines
| Bhutan | Brazil | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often involves fines and points on license | 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 enforced | Fines for all unrestrained passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines enforced | Fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically immediate payment required | Varies; generally 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bhutan:
Varies; often involves fines and points on license
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
Common Fines: Alcohol
bhutan:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bhutan:
Fines enforced
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
bhutan:
Fines enforced
brazil:
Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bhutan:
Yes
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
Payment: Deadline
bhutan:
Varies; typically immediate payment required
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay