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© 2016 Dwellworks
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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