Driving in Brazil vs. Vanuatu: Key Safety Differences
When it comes to navigating the roads of Brazil and Vanuatu, drivers must be aware of distinct regulations and practices that impact their journeys. Key contrasts include lane usage, speed restrictions, and the enforcement of safety measures. Understanding these variations is crucial for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
vanuatu:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
brazil:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 80 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 | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
80-120 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
brazil:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
brazil:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
brazil:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
brazil:
Yes
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | English; symbols are standard |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Turns
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but 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
vanuatu:
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
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
brazil:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
vanuatu:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
brazil:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used frequently | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
vanuatu:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| 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
vanuatu:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
brazil:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can be substantial, often over R$100 | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | High fines with potential imprisonment | Varies; 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 for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Possible; or through police stations |
| 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
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
vanuatu:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay