Driving in Brazil vs. Croatia: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the road rules of Brazil and Croatia, travelers will uncover notable contrasts in traffic regulations and safety measures. Key distinctions include overtaking practices, speed limits, and documentation requirements. Understanding these variances will ensure a safer, more informed driving experience while navigating the highways of these vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not commonly practiced. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
croatia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
croatia:
Not commonly practiced.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
croatia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
croatia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
croatia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 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 | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
croatia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
croatia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
croatia:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
croatia:
90 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Croatian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
croatia:
Not used
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
brazil:
Signal when exiting
croatia:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
croatia:
Croatian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
croatia:
Triangle with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
croatia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens |
| 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 | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
croatia:
Accepted temporarily; no International Driving Permit necessary for EEA citizens
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
croatia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
croatia:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
croatia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
croatia:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
croatia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
croatia:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
croatia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
croatia:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
croatia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 92 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | 188 or check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
croatia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
croatia:
92
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
croatia:
188 or check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
croatia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Croatia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; significant fines possible |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines enforced |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Significant fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes, often |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; stated at the time of fine |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
croatia:
Varies; significant fines possible
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
croatia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
croatia:
Fines enforced
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
croatia:
Significant fines
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
croatia:
Yes, often
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
croatia:
Varies; stated at the time of fine