Driving in Brazil vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
Embarking on a journey through Brazil and Japan? It's crucial to understand the distinct driving regulations and customs in each nation. From lane usage to speed limits, these countries exhibit notable contrasts. For instance, Brazil drives on the right side, while Japan adheres to the left. Ensure a safer experience by familiarizing yourself with these essential distinctions.
Lanes
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| 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 during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Varies by locality; check for signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| 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
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
brazil:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
japan:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days