Driving in Brazil vs. Fiji: Key Safety Differences
Discover the unique driving landscapes of Brazil and Fiji, where distinct regulations and practices influence road safety. From contrasting driving sides to varying speed limits and lane usage, understanding these disparities is essential for a secure journey. Explore how cultural norms and legal stipulations shape the experience behind the wheel in each nation.
Lanes
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost 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 | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
fiji:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
fiji:
Centerline on two-way roads; overtaking permitted.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
fiji:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
fiji:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
fiji:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
fiji:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
fiji:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
fiji:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 kph |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30 kph |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70 kph |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60 kph |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 kph |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 kph |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 kph |
| Speed Units | km/h | kph |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
fiji:
50 kph
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
fiji:
30 kph
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
fiji:
70 kph
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
fiji:
60 kph
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
fiji:
100 kph
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
90 kph
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
fiji:
80 kph
Speed Units
brazil:
km/h
fiji:
kph
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Signals
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Fiji |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
fiji:
Not used in Fiji
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
fiji:
Unnecessary use discouraged; fines can apply
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
fiji:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed only where indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
fiji:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
fiji:
Allowed only where indicated by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 vehicle inspections are mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the 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
fiji:
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
fiji:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
fiji:
Annual vehicle inspections are mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
fiji:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
fiji:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
fiji:
Often used for greetings or to alert pedestrians and other vehicles
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
fiji:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial fines, potential loss of license |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
fiji:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
fiji:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
fiji:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
fiji:
Common; checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
fiji:
Substantial fines, potential loss of license
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
fiji:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Contact 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
fiji:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
fiji:
911 for emergencies; *000 for non-emergencies on mobile phones
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
fiji:
Contact your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
fiji:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Fiji | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; $50 to $500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Mandatory; fines can apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply; obey signals |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes; fines can be issued at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
fiji:
Varies; $50 to $500
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
fiji:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
fiji:
Mandatory; fines can apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
fiji:
Use while driving is prohibited, fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
fiji:
Fines apply; obey signals
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
fiji:
Yes; fines can be issued at the scene
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
fiji:
Varies; typically within 7 to 14 days