Driving in Brazil vs. Venezuela: Key Safety Differences
Exploring the contrasts in roadway regulations between Brazil and Venezuela unveils crucial insights for travelers. While both nations enforce speed limits and traffic signals, notable divergences arise in overtaking rules and alcohol limits. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure and smooth journey in unfamiliar landscapes.
Lanes
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes, usually in larger cities |
| 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. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Infrequent |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Where available, exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols may be used. |
Overtaking: On Left
brazil:
No
venezuela:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
brazil:
Yes
venezuela:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
venezuela:
Yes, usually in larger cities
Bus Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Reserved exclusively for buses; sometimes bicycles are allowed.
venezuela:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Labeled 'ÔNIBUS'; often with road signs.
venezuela:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
brazil:
Yes
venezuela:
Infrequent
Cycle Lanes: Usage
brazil:
Exclusive for bicycles.
venezuela:
Where available, exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
brazil:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
venezuela:
Bicycle symbols may be used.
Speeds Limits
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-60 km/h | 30-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-90 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 70-90 km/h |
Urban Areas: Standard
brazil:
40-60 km/h
venezuela:
30-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
brazil:
60-100 km/h
venezuela:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
brazil:
60-90 km/h
venezuela:
70 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
60-90 km/h
venezuela:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
brazil:
80-100 km/h
venezuela:
70-90 km/h
Signals
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Brazil | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Portuguese; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
brazil:
Not used in Brazil
venezuela:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
brazil:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
venezuela:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
brazil:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
venezuela:
Diamond-shaped with red border
Turns
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless a sign prohibits it | Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs |
Right Turn On Red
brazil:
Not allowed
venezuela:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
brazil:
Allowed unless a sign prohibits it
venezuela:
Generally allowed unless otherwise indicated by signs
Documentation
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days | International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year for passenger vehicles | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on windshield or license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| 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
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
brazil:
International Driving Permit recommended, national licenses accepted for up to 180 days
venezuela:
International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
brazil:
Required every year for passenger vehicles
venezuela:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
brazil:
Displayed on windshield or license plate
venezuela:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended
venezuela:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
brazil:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
venezuela:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.04% | 0.08% |
| 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 | Fairly common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Results in immediate license suspension | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
brazil:
0.04%
venezuela:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
brazil:
0.00%
venezuela:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
brazil:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
venezuela:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
brazil:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
venezuela:
Fairly common
Enforcement: Fines
brazil:
Substantial for any offense; applies strict zero-tolerance policy
venezuela:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
brazil:
Results in immediate license suspension
venezuela:
Can result in license suspension
Emergency Services
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 190 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 191 | 171 |
| 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 | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
brazil:
190
venezuela:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
brazil:
191
venezuela:
171
Contact: Roadside Assistance
brazil:
Check with your insurance provider or recommended local services
venezuela:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
brazil:
Recommended, especially at night
venezuela:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Brazil | Venezuela | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 applicable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines and points on license | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Commonly used; E-ticket systems available | Yes, sometimes possible |
| 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
venezuela:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Alcohol
brazil:
High fines with potential imprisonment
venezuela:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
brazil:
Fines for all unrestrained passengers
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Phone Use
brazil:
Fines and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
brazil:
Fines and points on license
venezuela:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
brazil:
Commonly used; E-ticket systems available
venezuela:
Yes, sometimes possible
Payment: Deadline
brazil:
Varies; generally 30 days to pay
venezuela:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay