Driving in Brazil vs. Latvia: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the roads of Brazil and Latvia, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. This comparison reveals significant contrasts, such as overtaking practices and speed limits, highlighting Brazil's unique approach to road etiquette versus Latvia's structured traffic enforcement. Prepare for your international adventure by familiarizing yourself with these essential driving insights.

brazillatvia

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in brazil is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in brazil is 54

0.922 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for brazil is 0.922 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Brazil	Latvia
Overtaking: On Left	No	Yes
Overtaking: On Right	Yes	Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.
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

Overtaking: On Left

brazil:

latvia:

Yes

Overtaking: On Right

brazil:

Yes

latvia:

Not commonly practiced; generally only when the lane is clear.

Bus Lanes: Usage

brazil:

Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.

latvia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

brazil:

Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.

latvia:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

brazil:

N/A

latvia:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

brazil:

N/A

latvia:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Brazil	Latvia
Urban Areas: Standard	40-60 km/h	50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	60-100 km/h	90 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	90 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	Common; fines are often issued immediately

Urban Areas: Standard

brazil:

40-60 km/h

latvia:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

brazil:

60-100 km/h

latvia:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

brazil:

60-90 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

brazil:

60-90 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

brazil:

80-120 km/h

latvia:

100 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

brazil:

80-100 km/h

latvia:

90 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

brazil:

80-100 km/h

latvia:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

brazil:

latvia:

Yes

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

brazil:

N/A

latvia:

Electronic signs display current limits

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

brazil:

Yes

latvia:

Common; fines are often issued immediately

Signals

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	Brazil	Latvia
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Brazil	Not used in Latvia
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	Portuguese; symbols are standard	Latvian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Diamond-shaped with yellow background	Triangle-shaped with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

brazil:

Not used in Brazil

latvia:

Not used in Latvia

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

brazil:

Signal when exiting

latvia:

Signal when entering and exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

brazil:

Portuguese; symbols are standard

latvia:

Latvian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

brazil:

Diamond-shaped with yellow background

latvia:

Triangle-shaped with red borders

Turns

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	Brazil		Latvia
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless a sign prohibits it		Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Right Turn On Red

brazil:

Not allowed

latvia:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

brazil:

Allowed unless a sign prohibits it

latvia:

Permitted unless signs indicate otherwise

Documentation

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	Brazil	Latvia
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days	Accepted, no International Driving Permit required
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 inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield or license plate	Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

brazil:

International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days

latvia:

Accepted, no International Driving Permit required

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

brazil:

International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days

latvia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

brazil:

Required every year for passenger vehicles

latvia:

Annual vehicle inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

brazil:

Displayed on windshield or license plate

latvia:

Displayed on windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

brazil:

Recommended

latvia:

Mandatory

Road Etiquette

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	Brazil		Latvia
Pedestrians Priority	Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks		Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Pedestrians Priority

brazil:

Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks

latvia:

Pedestrians have right of way at zebra crossings

Alcohol

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	Brazil	Latvia
Limits: General Drivers	0.04%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance policy	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used frequently	Common, especially on weekends
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy	Substantial, varies based on BAC
Test Refusal	Results in immediate license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

brazil:

0.04%

latvia:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

brazil:

0.00%; zero tolerance policy

latvia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

brazil:

Common; checkpoints used frequently

latvia:

Common, especially on weekends

Enforcement: Fines

brazil:

Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy

latvia:

Substantial, varies based on BAC

Test Refusal

brazil:

Results in immediate license suspension

latvia:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Emergency Services

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	Brazil	Latvia
Contact: General Emergency	190	112
Contact: Traffic Police	191	Varies; dial 112 for emergencies
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services	Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended, especially at night	Mandatory

Contact: General Emergency

brazil:

190

latvia:

112

Contact: Traffic Police

brazil:

191

latvia:

Varies; dial 112 for emergencies

Contact: Roadside Assistance

brazil:

Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services

latvia:

Check with your insurance provider or local services

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

brazil:

Recommended, especially at night

latvia:

Mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Brazil	Latvia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100	Varies; €20 to €300, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol	High fines with potential imprisonment	Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines for all unrestrained passengers	€20 to €40, fines vary
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines and points on license	€10 to €30, fines vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines and points on license	€30 to €70, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Commonly used; E-ticket systems available	Common; fines can often be settled at the time
Payment: Deadline	Varies; generally 30 days to pay	Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days

Common Fines: Speeding

brazil:

Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100

latvia:

Varies; €20 to €300, points on license

Common Fines: Alcohol

brazil:

High fines with potential imprisonment

latvia:

Varies; substantial fines, possible license suspension

Common Fines: Seat Belts

brazil:

Fines for all unrestrained passengers

latvia:

€20 to €40, fines vary

Common Fines: Phone Use

brazil:

Fines and points on license

latvia:

€10 to €30, fines vary

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

brazil:

Fines and points on license

latvia:

€30 to €70, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

brazil:

Commonly used; E-ticket systems available

latvia:

Common; fines can often be settled at the time

Payment: Deadline

brazil:

Varies; generally 30 days to pay

latvia:

Varies; typically within 10 to 30 days