Driving Differences: Brazil vs. Malaysia Explained
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations and driving customs between Brazil and Malaysia. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol policies and emergency protocols, these nations exhibit distinct practices that impact traveler safety. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience while exploring each country's unique landscapes.
Lanes
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 5 | List length: 4 |
| 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 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
malaysia:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
malaysia:
Marks the division between lanes of opposite directions.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
brazil:
List length: 5
malaysia:
List length: 4
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
malaysia:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
malaysia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
malaysia:
Labeled 'BAS' or 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
malaysia:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
malaysia:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
malaysia:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
malaysia:
80-90 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Malaysia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Malay and English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
malaysia:
Not used in Malaysia
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
malaysia:
Malay and English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
malaysia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Required yearly for roadworthiness |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
malaysia:
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
malaysia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
malaysia:
Required yearly for roadworthiness
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
malaysia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
malaysia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used nationwide |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial fines |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
malaysia:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
malaysia:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
malaysia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
malaysia:
Common; checkpoints used nationwide
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
malaysia:
Substantial fines
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
malaysia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
malaysia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 999 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
malaysia:
999
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
malaysia:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
malaysia:
Check with your insurance provider or Motoring Services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
malaysia:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
malaysia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Malaysia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; RM150 and above |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | RM300, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; fines and points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations |
| 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
malaysia:
Varies; RM150 and above
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
malaysia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
malaysia:
RM300, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
malaysia:
Varies; fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
malaysia:
Yes; can also be paid online or at local stations
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
malaysia:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay