Driving Differences: Brazil vs. Indonesia Revealed
When navigating the roads of Brazil and Indonesia, understanding the contrasting regulations and practices is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Key differences include driving on the right in Brazil versus the left in Indonesia, varied speed limits, and distinct rules governing lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these driving nuances can greatly enhance your travel experience and safety abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with specific signage. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
indonesia:
Left
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
indonesia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
indonesia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes specific vehicles.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
indonesia:
Labeled with specific signage.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
indonesia:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
indonesia:
Primarily in major cities, exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Common |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
indonesia:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
indonesia:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
indonesia:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
indonesia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
indonesia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
indonesia:
Common
Signals
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Indonesia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Indonesian; 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
indonesia:
Not used in Indonesia
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
indonesia:
Indonesian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
indonesia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Forbidden unless a sign permits it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
indonesia:
Forbidden unless a sign permits it
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
indonesia:
Normally permitted unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| 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 | Yes, periodic checks required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Evidence of inspection may be displayed |
| 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
indonesia:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
indonesia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
indonesia:
Yes, periodic checks required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
indonesia:
Evidence of inspection may be displayed
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
indonesia:
Not mandatory but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use in traffic |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Give way and make room |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
indonesia:
Frequent use in traffic
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
indonesia:
Give way and make room
Alcohol
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| 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 |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies by region; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
indonesia:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
indonesia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
indonesia:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
indonesia:
Varies by region; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
indonesia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 or 110 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Check local emergency numbers |
| 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 | Mandatory in case of breakdown |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Recommended for safety |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
indonesia:
112 or 110
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
indonesia:
Check local emergency numbers
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
indonesia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
indonesia:
Mandatory in case of breakdown
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
indonesia:
Recommended for safety
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Indonesia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; subject to local laws |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Subject to local laws, fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines apply, enforced rigorously |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
indonesia:
Varies; subject to local laws
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
indonesia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
indonesia:
Subject to local laws, fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply for using a handheld phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
indonesia:
Fines apply, enforced rigorously
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
indonesia:
Common; fines can often be paid directly or through banks
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
indonesia:
Varies; typically within 14 to 30 days