Driving in Brazil vs. Cyprus: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Brazil versus Cyprus, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their experience. Key variations include driving on opposite sides—right in Brazil and left in Cyprus—along with differing speed limits and overtaking rules. Understanding these contrasts is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in each nation.
Lanes
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Usually reserved for public transport. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled; specific signs indicate usage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
cyprus:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
cyprus:
Marks the edge of the road.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
cyprus:
May not be commonly used; other markings guide traffic
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
cyprus:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
cyprus:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
cyprus:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
cyprus:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
cyprus:
Usually reserved for public transport.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
cyprus:
Labeled; specific signs indicate usage.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
cyprus:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
cyprus:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
cyprus:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 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 | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
cyprus:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
cyprus:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
cyprus:
100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
cyprus:
N/A
Signals
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Cyprus |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Greek and English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
cyprus:
Not used in Cyprus
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
brazil:
Signal when exiting
cyprus:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
cyprus:
Greek and English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
cyprus:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
cyprus:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 without additional permits |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
cyprus:
Accepted for short visits without additional permits
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
cyprus:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
cyprus:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
cyprus:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
cyprus:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used routinely |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial and strict |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
cyprus:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
cyprus:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
cyprus:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
cyprus:
Common; checkpoints used routinely
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
cyprus:
Substantial and strict
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
cyprus:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately |
Signaling: Entering
brazil:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
cyprus:
Signal when entering and intending to exit immediately
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| 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
cyprus:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
cyprus:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
cyprus:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
cyprus:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Cyprus | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Strict enforcement |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Strict enforcement, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Substantial fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| 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
cyprus:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
cyprus:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
cyprus:
Strict enforcement
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
cyprus:
Strict enforcement, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
cyprus:
Substantial fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
cyprus:
Rare; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
cyprus:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay