Driving in Brazil vs. Thailand: Key Safety Differences
Driving in Brazil and Thailand presents unique challenges and regulations that vary significantly. From lane usage—where Brazilians drive on the right and Thais on the left—to differing speed limits and alcohol restrictions, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a secure journey. Explore these crucial distinctions to navigate safely while abroad!
Lanes
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Prohibited |
| 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 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
brazil:
Right
thailand:
Left
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
thailand:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
thailand:
Prohibited
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
brazil:
Use rightmost lane.
thailand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
thailand:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
thailand:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 50-60 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 90-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80-90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
thailand:
50-60 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
brazil:
30 km/h
thailand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
thailand:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
thailand:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
thailand:
90-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
thailand:
80-90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
thailand:
N/A
Signals
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Thailand |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Thai; some signs include English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Warning signs are triangular |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
thailand:
Not used in Thailand
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
thailand:
Thai; some signs include English
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
thailand:
Warning signs are triangular
Turns
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs |
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
thailand:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Mandatory for registration renewal |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on windshield after passing inspection |
| 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
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
thailand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
thailand:
Mandatory for registration renewal
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
thailand:
Displayed on windshield after passing inspection
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
thailand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use to alert other drivers |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the side and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
thailand:
Frequent use to alert other drivers
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
thailand:
Pull over to the side and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial fines and possible imprisonment |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
thailand:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
thailand:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
thailand:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
thailand:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
thailand:
Substantial fines and possible imprisonment
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
thailand:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
brazil:
Signal right when preparing to exit
thailand:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
brazil:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
thailand:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 191 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 1193 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local authorities |
| 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
thailand:
191
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
thailand:
1193
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
thailand:
Check with your insurance provider or local authorities
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
thailand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; fines start from ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines up to ฿500 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines start from ฿500 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Common; fines can be paid at the scene |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 7 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
thailand:
Varies; fines start from ฿500
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
thailand:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
thailand:
Fines up to ฿500
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
thailand:
Fines start from ฿500
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
thailand:
Common; fines can be paid at the scene
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
thailand:
Varies; typically within 7 days