Driving in Brazil vs. Romania: Key Safety Differences
Explore the unique road regulations and practices in Brazil and Romania to enhance your travel experience. Notable distinctions include overtaking rules, speed limits, and documentation requirements, which can greatly impact your journey. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable driving adventure in both countries.
Lanes
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
romania:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 90 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 | 130 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: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
romania:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted; 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 | Yes, periodic inspections 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
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| 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 | Considerable fines for offenses |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
romania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
romania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
brazil:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist