Driving in Brazil vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
When it comes to navigating the roads, Brazil and Nepal present distinct contrasts that every traveler should be aware of. From traffic regulations and speed limits to lane usage and emergency protocols, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a smooth and secure journey. Explore the essential driving distinctions between these fascinating countries to enhance your road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
nepal:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brazil:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
brazil:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
nepal:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
nepal:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
nepal:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
nepal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
nepal:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
brazil:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay