Driving in Brazil vs. Serbia: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Brazil and Serbia, motorists must navigate distinct regulations and practices. Key differences include overtaking rules, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance levels, which directly impact travel safety. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience in each country.
Lanes
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
serbia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
serbia:
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.
serbia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 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 | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 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
serbia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Serbia |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Serbian; 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
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 may be 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 periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on 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
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
serbia:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
serbia:
Mandatory
Alcohol
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial, varies by severity |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
serbia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
serbia:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay