Driving in Brazil vs. Tanzania: Key Safety Differences
When traveling abroad, understanding the nuances of road regulations is vital for a safe journey. This comparison between Brazil and Tanzania reveals distinct variations in driving protocols, from lane usage to speed limits and documentation requirements. Discover how these disparities impact your travel experience and ensure your safety on the roads.
Lanes
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| 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 'DART'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes. |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
tanzania:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
brazil:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
tanzania:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
tanzania:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
tanzania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
tanzania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'DART'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tanzania:
Bicycle symbols and dedicated lanes.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 30-50 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 | 80 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 |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
tanzania:
50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
tanzania:
30-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
tanzania:
100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
tanzania:
80 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Tanzania |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English and Swahili; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
tanzania:
Not used in Tanzania
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
tanzania:
English and Swahili; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
tanzania:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 with an International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Required annually |
| 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
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
tanzania:
Accepted for short visits with an International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
tanzania:
Required annually
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
tanzania:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
tanzania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate usage 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
tanzania:
Moderate usage compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
tanzania:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Significant fines apply |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
tanzania:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
tanzania:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
tanzania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tanzania:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
tanzania:
Significant fines apply
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
tanzania:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 112 |
| 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
tanzania:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
tanzania:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
tanzania:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
tanzania:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Tanzania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; penalties can be severe |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Penalties enforced |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common |
| 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
tanzania:
Varies; penalties can be severe
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
tanzania:
Substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
tanzania:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
tanzania:
Penalties enforced
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
tanzania:
Common
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
tanzania:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay