Driving in Brazil vs. Singapore: Key Safety Differences
Discover the intriguing contrasts in road regulations between Brazil and Singapore. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits and lane etiquette, these distinctions are significant. Whether it's the enforcement of speed fines or the protocols for emergency vehicles, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Not allowed. |
| 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 peak hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
singapore:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
singapore:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
singapore:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
singapore:
Not allowed.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
singapore:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
singapore:
Reserved for buses during peak hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
singapore:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 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 | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
singapore:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
singapore:
40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
singapore:
70-90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
singapore:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
singapore:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
singapore:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
singapore:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Singapore |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
singapore:
Not used in Singapore
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
singapore:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not allowed. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
singapore:
Not allowed.
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
singapore:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended for long stays |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Display not required |
| 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
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
singapore:
International Driving Permit recommended for long stays
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
singapore:
Compulsory every 1-2 years depending on vehicle age
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
singapore:
Display not required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
singapore:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
brazil:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
singapore:
To warn of hazards or a vehicle breakdown
Pedestrians Priority
brazil:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
singapore:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks and pedestrian zones
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
singapore:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
singapore:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
singapore:
0.00%
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
singapore:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 995 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 999 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore |
| 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
singapore:
995
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
singapore:
999
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
singapore:
Check with your insurance provider or AA Singapore
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
singapore:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Singapore | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; significant fines, demerit points |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | $120, demerit points for non-compliance |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | $200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | $200 to $500, demerit points |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 14 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
singapore:
Varies; significant fines, demerit points
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
singapore:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
singapore:
$120, demerit points for non-compliance
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
singapore:
$200 to $1,000, demerit points for hand-held use
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
singapore:
$200 to $500, demerit points
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
singapore:
Not practiced; fines usually paid online or by other means
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
singapore:
Varies; typically 14 days to pay