Driving Differences: Brazil vs. Ireland Explained
When exploring the roads of Brazil and Ireland, it's crucial to understand their distinct driving regulations. From the left-side navigation in Ireland to Brazil's varied speed limits, each country presents unique challenges. Familiarizing yourself with these essential contrasts can significantly enhance your travel experience and ensure safer journeys abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks areas where passing is not allowed. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | No, overtake on the right. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, standard overtaking side. |
| 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 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 |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
ireland:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
ireland:
Marks areas where passing is not allowed.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
ireland:
Used as centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
ireland:
No, overtake on the right.
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
ireland:
Yes, standard overtaking side.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
ireland:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
ireland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
ireland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | More common; fines can be issued on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
ireland:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
ireland:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
ireland:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
ireland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
ireland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
ireland:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
ireland:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
ireland:
More common; fines can be issued on the spot.
Signals
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles | Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles. |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Indicates the light is about to turn green. |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas. |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangles with red borders |
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber
brazil:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles
ireland:
Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
ireland:
Indicates the light is about to turn green.
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
brazil:
Signal when exiting
ireland:
Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
ireland:
Use between 11:30pm and 7:00am is generally prohibited in residential areas.
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
ireland:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
ireland:
Triangles with red borders
Turns
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
ireland:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| 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
ireland:
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
ireland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
ireland:
Compulsory for vehicles older than four years; NCT certificate required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
ireland:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
ireland:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Random breath testing is common. |
| 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%
ireland:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
ireland:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
ireland:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
ireland:
Random breath testing is common.
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
ireland:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
ireland:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 112 or 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
ireland:
112 or 999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
ireland:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Ireland
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
ireland:
Required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
ireland:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | €60 fine and two penalty points |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | €60 fine and three penalty points |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €80 and three penalty points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
ireland:
Varies; €80 to €120, and points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
ireland:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
ireland:
€60 fine and two penalty points
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
ireland:
€60 fine and three penalty points
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
ireland:
€80 and three penalty points
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
ireland:
Possible; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
ireland:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay