Driving in Brazil vs. Cambodia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Brazil and Cambodia, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that impact their travel experience. Key contrasts include overtaking rules and speed limits, with Brazil favoring right-side maneuvers while Cambodia permits left-side overtaking. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each country.
Lanes
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
cambodia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
cambodia:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
cambodia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
cambodia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
cambodia:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
cambodia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
cambodia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
cambodia:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
cambodia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
cambodia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
cambodia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
cambodia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
cambodia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
cambodia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
cambodia:
N/A
Signals
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | N/A |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Khmer and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
cambodia:
N/A
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
cambodia:
Khmer and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Varies, check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
cambodia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
cambodia:
Varies, check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
cambodia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
cambodia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
cambodia:
Displayed on the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
cambodia:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
cambodia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use as means of communication |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
cambodia:
Frequent use as means of communication
Alcohol
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Strict and substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
cambodia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
cambodia:
0.00%; zero tolerance for underage drivers
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
cambodia:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
cambodia:
Strict and substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
cambodia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
cambodia:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
cambodia:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
cambodia:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
cambodia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Cambodia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; fines are substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Varies; penalties applied |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Varies; penalties applied |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes, on the spot payment |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within a specified period |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
cambodia:
Varies; fines are substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
cambodia:
Varies; penalties applied
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
cambodia:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
cambodia:
Yes, on the spot payment
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
cambodia:
Varies; typically within a specified period