Driving in Brazil vs. South Korea: Key Safety Differences
When exploring the roads of Brazil and South Korea, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that significantly impact their journeys. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol tolerance and traffic signals, understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure experience abroad. Prepare to navigate these essential contrasts between these vibrant countries.
Lanes
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
south korea:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
brazil:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Alcohol
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes |
| 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
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay