Driving in Brazil vs. Tunisia: Key Safety Differences
When navigating the roads of Brazil and Tunisia, understanding the unique regulations and practices is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key distinctions include lane usage, speed limits, and alcohol regulations, all of which significantly impact road conduct. Explore these driving nuances to enhance your travel experience and maintain safety abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
tunisia:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 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 | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
tunisia:
80 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Mandatory; proof may be 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
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
brazil:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
tunisia:
0.05%
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| 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
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
tunisia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay