Driving Differences: Brazil vs Senegal for Safe Travel
When navigating the roads of Brazil and Senegal, it's essential to understand their unique traffic regulations and practices. While Brazil allows overtaking on the right, Senegal permits it on the left. Furthermore, speed limits and alcohol thresholds vary significantly. Discover these distinctions to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
senegal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
senegal:
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.
senegal:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
senegal:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
senegal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
senegal:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
senegal:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
senegal:
90 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Senegal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
senegal:
Not used in Senegal
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
senegal:
French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
senegal:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not commonly allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
senegal:
Not commonly allowed
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
senegal:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Annual inspection required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on license plate or 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
senegal:
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
senegal:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
senegal:
Annual inspection required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
senegal:
Displayed on license plate or windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
senegal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
senegal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
brazil:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
senegal:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Alcohol
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| 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%
senegal:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
senegal:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
senegal:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
senegal:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 18 or 17 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 17 |
| 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 | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
senegal:
18 or 17
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
senegal:
17
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
senegal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
senegal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Senegal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | 10,000 CFA |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Varies; significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes; often required immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 7 to 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
senegal:
Varies; 10,000 CFA to 50,000 CFA
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
senegal:
10,000 CFA
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
senegal:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
senegal:
Yes; often required immediately
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
senegal:
Varies; typically 7 to 30 days