Driving in Brazil vs. Norway: Key Safety Differences
Explore the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Brazil and Norway, two nations with distinct driving cultures. While Brazil permits overtaking on the right, Norway enforces strict lane usage and lower alcohol limits. Understanding these variations is vital for ensuring your safety and compliance when navigating foreign roads.
Lanes
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. | Not standard in Norway. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn. |
| 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: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
norway:
Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
brazil:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
norway:
Not standard in Norway.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
norway:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
norway:
Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
norway:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
norway:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
brazil:
No
norway:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
norway:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 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 | 90-110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90-100 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
norway:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
norway:
90-110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
norway:
90-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
norway:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
norway:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
norway:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Norway |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
norway:
Not used in Norway
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
norway:
Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
norway:
Triangular-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
norway:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted with a national driving license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Yes, periodic inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | None |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
norway:
Accepted with a national driving license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
norway:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
norway:
Yes, periodic inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
norway:
None
Alcohol
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | High fines and possible license revocation |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
norway:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
norway:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
norway:
High fines and possible license revocation
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
norway:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 02800 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or NAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
norway:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
norway:
02800
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
norway:
Check with your insurance provider or NAF
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
norway:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Norway | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | 1500 NOK |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | 1700 NOK |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes, typically required |
| 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
norway:
Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
norway:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
norway:
1500 NOK
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
norway:
1700 NOK
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
norway:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
norway:
Yes, typically required
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
norway:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay