Driving in Brazil vs. Turkey: Key Safety Differences
In this comprehensive comparison between Brazil and Turkey, discover essential distinctions in roadway regulations and driving practices. From overtaking rules to speed limits, understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring safety on unfamiliar roads. Equip yourself with knowledge to navigate confidently through the unique traffic landscapes of both nations.
Lanes
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| 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 with specific signs indicating bus lanes. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
turkey:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
turkey:
Generally not allowed, except in specific situations or if the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
turkey:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
turkey:
Labeled with specific signs indicating bus lanes.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
turkey:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances. |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
turkey:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
turkey:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
turkey:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
turkey:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
brazil:
No
turkey:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
turkey:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
turkey:
Yes, fines may be imposed immediately in certain circumstances.
Signals
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not commonly used in Turkey |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00 |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Turkish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
turkey:
Not commonly used in Turkey
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
brazil:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
turkey:
Unnecessary use prohibited in urban areas from 22:00 to 07:00
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
turkey:
Turkish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
turkey:
Triangle-shaped with a white background and red border
Turns
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it. |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
turkey:
Generally not allowed unless a specific sign permits it.
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
turkey:
Allowed at intersections unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 for longer stays |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Periodic inspection required for all vehicles |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield after inspection |
| 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
turkey:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended for longer stays
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
turkey:
International Driving Permit required alongside a foreign license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
turkey:
Periodic inspection required for all vehicles
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
turkey:
Displayed on the windshield after inspection
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
turkey:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | More frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
turkey:
More frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Common; checkpoints are frequent |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Varies by severity; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
turkey:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
turkey:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
turkey:
Common; checkpoints are frequent
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
turkey:
Varies by severity; can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
turkey:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 155 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended, especially at night | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
turkey:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
turkey:
155
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
turkey:
Check with your insurance provider or Turkish auto club services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
turkey:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines for all unrestrained passengers | Approximately TL 160, points may apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines for holding a phone while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines vary, penalty points apply |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; generally 30 days to pay | Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges |
Common Fines: Speeding
brazil:
Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100
turkey:
Varies; TL 140 to TL 400 and above, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
turkey:
Varies; substantial fines and penalty points, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
turkey:
Approximately TL 160, points may apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
turkey:
Fines for holding a phone while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
turkey:
Fines vary, penalty points apply
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
turkey:
Yes; fines may be imposed and collected immediately
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
turkey:
Varies; typically required to be paid promptly to avoid surcharges