Discovering Brazil

Drinking and Driving There is zero tolerance for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs in Brazil. Consuming a beer or small glass of wine before driving is considered a serious offence. A driver found to have a Blood Alcohol Content level above 0.0 is fined based on their BAC – the higher the level, the larger the fine. In some cases, the driver faces suspension, and a driver that causes an accident, injury, or death may also face jail time. Fuel Petrol or gas stations are generally not difficult to find in cities or on main connecting roads, but may be much less common in remote and sparsely populated areas. Poor quality fuel can be an issue, so it is suggested to purchase fuel from a reliable source. Employees are hired at petrol stations to fill the tank for you, so you don't need to get out of the car, unless you're paying by credit card, in which case you can go to the cashier inside. Helpful Hint: Traffic volume is a major issue in the larger cities and traffic jams can occur outside of rush-hour without warning. Some cities have introduced a Rodizio or rotation system which prohibits certain vehicles (except taxis, emergency vehicles and public buses) from using public roads on one day each week. So be sure to always have gas in your car and to follow the regulations of your city. Please see the city guide for specific details. Roadside Assistance Many private insurance policies include a breakdown recovery service as part of the policy. Make sure you have their emergency phone number with you, and if you feel that you will be unable to communicate in Portuguese, you can call your Dwellworks Consultant for help. Car Seats It is mandatory that every child up to 10 years-old should ride in the back seat and should be using an appropriate car seat approved by INMETRO.  Child car seats (shell-shaped ones) should be positioned behind the front seats and facing the back window. It can be reversed after the child’s head reaches the top of the car seat or is one year-old, and weights at least 9 kg (20 lbs)  A one year-old child, or a child that weights more than 18 kg (40 lbs) should use an appropriate car seat in the back seat, facing the front of the vehicle  Booster seats have to be used when the child outgrows the forward-facing car seat and is not big enough to use the seat belt properly

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Discovering Brazil