Driving Differences: Brazil vs. Sri Lanka Explained
When traveling from Brazil to Sri Lanka, understanding the distinct driving regulations and practices is essential for a secure journey. Key contrasts include driving on the right in Brazil versus the left in Sri Lanka, as well as variations in speed limits and lane usage. Familiarizing yourself with these vital distinctions will enhance your road safety abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed when safe. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Reserved for buses. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted. |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
sri lanka:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
sri lanka:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
sri lanka:
Allowed when safe.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
sri lanka:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
sri lanka:
Reserved for buses.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
sri lanka:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
sri lanka:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
sri lanka:
Bicycles often share lanes with other vehicles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
sri lanka:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
sri lanka:
Speed limits remain constant unless otherwise posted.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
sri lanka:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
sri lanka:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
sri lanka:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
sri lanka:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
sri lanka:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
sri lanka:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
sri lanka:
Yes; fines are applied at the time of citation
Signals
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Sri Lanka |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected | Used more frequently in rural areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular shape with a red border and a white background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
sri lanka:
Not used in Sri Lanka
Hand Signals: Common Usage
brazil:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
sri lanka:
Used more frequently in rural areas
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
sri lanka:
Sinhala, Tamil, and sometimes English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
sri lanka:
Triangular shape with a red border and a white background
Turns
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
sri lanka:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit 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 | Yes, proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| 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
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
sri lanka:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
sri lanka:
Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
sri lanka:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
sri lanka:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
sri lanka:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
sri lanka:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.06% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| 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%
sri lanka:
0.06%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
sri lanka:
0.04%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
sri lanka:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
sri lanka:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
sri lanka:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
sri lanka:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
sri lanka:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 119 or contact local police |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider |
| 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
sri lanka:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
sri lanka:
119 or contact local police
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
sri lanka:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
sri lanka:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Sri lanka | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; expect substantial fines |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applied; amount may vary |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; fines may be paid on the spot |
| 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
sri lanka:
Varies; expect substantial fines
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
sri lanka:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
sri lanka:
Fines applied; amount may vary
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
sri lanka:
Possible; fines may be paid on the spot
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
sri lanka:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay