Driving Differences: Brazil vs. Cuba Explained
When exploring the roads of Brazil and Cuba, distinct variations in traffic regulations and safety measures come to light. Notably, while overtaking on the left is permitted in Cuba, Brazil mandates its drivers to overtake on the right. Additionally, speed limits differ across urban and rural areas, emphasizing the need for vigilance when navigating these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typical; follow local rules and signs. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use the rightmost lane. |
| 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 |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Rare |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Road signs or painted indicators where applicable. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
cuba:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
cuba:
Not typical; follow local rules and signs.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
brazil:
List length: 5
cuba:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
cuba:
Use the rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
cuba:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
cuba:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
cuba:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
cuba:
Bicycles may share the road with motor vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cuba:
Road signs or painted indicators where applicable.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 50-70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common; enforced by traffic police |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
cuba:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
cuba:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
cuba:
60-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
cuba:
50-70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
cuba:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
cuba:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brazil:
Yes
cuba:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
cuba:
Common; enforced by traffic police
Signals
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Cuba |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
cuba:
Not used in Cuba
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
cuba:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cuba:
Triangular with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Varies by area, check for local signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
cuba:
Varies by area, check for local signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | 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
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
cuba:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
cuba:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
cuba:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
cuba:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use than in some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
cuba:
More frequent use than in some countries
Alcohol
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Less common; checkpoints used in some areas |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
cuba:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
cuba:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
cuba:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
cuba:
Less common; checkpoints used in some areas
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
cuba:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
cuba:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 106 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 106 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Varies by provider; national lines may apply |
| 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
cuba:
106
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
cuba:
106
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
cuba:
Varies by provider; national lines may apply
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
cuba:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Cuba | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fine equivalent varies, local currency |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; usually paid directly to officers |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
cuba:
Varies; typically $10 to $100 equivalent, local currency
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
cuba:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
cuba:
Fine equivalent varies, local currency
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
cuba:
Common; usually paid directly to officers
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
cuba:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay