Driving in Brazil vs. New Zealand: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Brazil and New Zealand, drivers encounter significant contrasts in regulations and practices. From differing lane usage to speed limits and alcohol policies, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Discover how these two nations prioritize road etiquette, vehicle documentation, and emergency protocols to enhance safety on their unique landscapes.
Lanes
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning 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 during certain hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
new zealand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 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 | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
brazil:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on license plate or windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| 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
new zealand:
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
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
new zealand:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
brazil:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
new zealand:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
new zealand:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
brazil:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
new zealand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay