Driving Safety: Brazil vs. China - Key Differences
When exploring the roads of Brazil and China, drivers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their experiences. Key variations include highway speed limits, overtaking rules, and lane markings. Understanding these contrasts is vital for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Separates directions on multi-lane roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed in certain cases; check local rules. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3] | Pedestrian crossings | Railroad crossings |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use rightmost lane if possible. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
china:
Separates directions on multi-lane roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
china:
Marks centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
china:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
china:
Allowed in certain cases; check local rules.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
brazil:
List length: 5
china:
List length: 4
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas[ Index 3]
brazil:
Pedestrian crossings
china:
Railroad crossings
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
china:
Use rightmost lane if possible.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
china:
Reserved for buses; other vehicles during off-peak hours in some places.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
china:
Labeled with lane signs and often painted lanes.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
china:
Exclusive for bicycles and electric bikes.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
china:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes different texture or color.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
brazil:
No
china:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
china:
Usually for vehicles with two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
china:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
china:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, especially in urban areas |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
china:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
china:
70-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
china:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
china:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
china:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
china:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
china:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
china:
Yes, especially in urban areas
Signals
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in China |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Chinese; symbols also used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
china:
Not used in China
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
china:
Restricted in some urban areas to reduce noise pollution
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
china:
Chinese; symbols also used
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
china:
Triangular shape with red borders
Turns
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
china:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign; varies by locality
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
china:
Allowed unless prohibition is indicated by road signs
Documentation
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Requirement | Valid driver's license required | Valid Chinese driver's license required |
| 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 for short visits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Requirement
brazil:
Valid driver's license required
china:
Valid Chinese driver's license required
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
china:
International Driving Permit required for short visits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
china:
International Driving Permit and temporary Chinese license usually required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
china:
Yes, periodic inspection required for vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
china:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
china:
Frequent use in cities such as Beijing and Shanghai
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
china:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially near bars and clubs |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Severe fines, license suspension possible |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension and legal penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
china:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
china:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
china:
Common, especially near bars and clubs
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
china:
Severe fines, license suspension possible
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
china:
Can result in license suspension and legal penalties
Roundabouts
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight ahead |
Lane Usage: Right
brazil:
Use for first exit or straight
china:
Use for first exit or straight ahead
Emergency Services
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Same as general emergency; 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
china:
110
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
china:
Same as general emergency; 110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
china:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
china:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | ¥50 to ¥200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; fines often paid online or at banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
china:
Varies; ¥200 to ¥2,000, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
china:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
china:
¥50 to ¥200
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
china:
Possible; fines often paid online or at banks
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
china:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay