Driving in Brazil vs. Morocco: Key Safety Differences
When traversing the roads of Brazil and Morocco, drivers must navigate distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their travel experience. Key variations include overtaking rules, speed limits, and alcohol thresholds, which underscore the importance of preparedness for safe journeys in these culturally rich nations.
Lanes
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Departure depends on specific roads. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
morocco:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
morocco:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
morocco:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
morocco:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
morocco:
Limited
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
morocco:
Departure depends on specific roads.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 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 | 100 km/h |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
morocco:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
morocco:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
morocco:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
morocco:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
morocco:
100 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Orange |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Morocco |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
brazil:
Amber
morocco:
Orange
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
morocco:
Not used in Morocco
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
morocco:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
morocco:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
morocco:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Annual inspection required. |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the 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
morocco:
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
morocco:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
morocco:
Annual inspection required.
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
morocco:
Displayed on the windshield.
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
morocco:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Horn usage is more common compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
morocco:
Horn usage is more common compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
morocco:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common, especially at night |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
morocco:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
morocco:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
morocco:
Common, especially at night
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
morocco:
Substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
morocco:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 19 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 19 |
| 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
morocco:
19
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
morocco:
19
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
morocco:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
morocco:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Morocco | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; can be substantial |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Mandatory, fines for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; can be substantial |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible but fines usually paid later |
| 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
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
morocco:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
morocco:
Mandatory, fines for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
morocco:
Fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
morocco:
Varies; can be substantial
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
morocco:
Possible but fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
morocco:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay