Priority signsBrazil

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Brazil. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs

Traffic rules

Priority signs

A priority sign is a traffic sign that indicates the order in which vehicles shall pass intersection points. Vehicles often come into conflict with other vehicles and pedestrians because their intended courses of travel intersect, and thus interfere with each other's routes. The general principle that establishes who has the right to go first is called 'right of way' or 'priority'. It establishes who has the right to use the conflicting part of the road and who has to wait until the other does so. The vehicle that does not need to wait is said to 'have the right of way' or to 'have priority.'

Warning for merging traffic from the right.

What should I know about priority signs in Brazil?

R-1 PARE requires stopping; R-2 requires giving way. Both belong to regulatory signage.

🔗 gov.br • CONTRAN national sign manual Volume I — relevant regulatory signs, scope and supplementary conditions; later amendments separately checked

🔗 gov.br • CONTRAN Resolution 973/2022 — national signalling framework and manual volumes

🔗 planalto.gov.br • Brazilian Traffic Code — Articles 80, 87–89, signs and precedence

Stop and give way.

English • Traffic sign R-1 • Compulsory stop. Stop completely before entering or crossing the road. Proceed only when safe.

Português • R-1 • Parada obrigatória. Pare completamente antes de entrar ou cruzar a via. Prossiga somente quando houver segurança.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume I, página PDF 29

SVG source: Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2014-04-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Give way.

English • Traffic sign R-2 • Give way. Give priority to vehicles on the road you are entering or crossing. Slow down or stop if necessary.

Português • R-2 • Dê a preferência. Dê a preferência aos veículos que circulam na via que você vai entrar ou cruzar. Reduza a velocidade ou pare, se necessário.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume I, página PDF 32

SVG source: Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2014-04-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Must you always stop when giving way in Brazil?

No. A give-way control requires stopping when necessary to yield or obtain a safe view. A stop sign requires a complete stop even if the road appears empty.

🔗 gov.br • CONTRAN national sign manual Volume I — relevant regulatory signs, scope and supplementary conditions; later amendments separately checked

🔗 gov.br • CONTRAN Resolution 973/2022 — national signalling framework and manual volumes

🔗 planalto.gov.br • Brazilian Traffic Code — Articles 80, 87–89, signs and precedence

1. Stop and give way

This traffic sign means stop and give way. You must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection and give way to traffic that has priority. Proceed only when it is safe.

English • Traffic sign R-1 • Compulsory stop. Stop completely before entering or crossing the road. Proceed only when safe.

Português • R-1 • Parada obrigatória. Pare completamente antes de entrar ou cruzar a via. Prossiga somente quando houver segurança.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume I, página PDF 29

SVG source: Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2014-04-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

2. Give way

This traffic sign means give way. Slow down and give way to traffic that has priority. Stop if necessary and proceed only when it is safe.

English • Traffic sign R-2 • Give way. Give priority to vehicles on the road you are entering or crossing. Slow down or stop if necessary.

Português • R-2 • Dê a preferência. Dê a preferência aos veículos que circulam na via que você vai entrar ou cruzar. Reduza a velocidade ou pare, se necessário.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume I, página PDF 32

SVG source: Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2014-04-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.

3. Stop and give way ahead

This traffic sign indicates stop and give way ahead. A stop sign applies at the location ahead. Reduce speed in good time and be prepared to come to a complete stop.

English • Traffic sign A-15 • Stop ahead. Prepare to stop at the point indicated by the STOP sign.

Português • A-15 • Parada obrigatória à frente. Adverte sobre uma parada obrigatória adiante. Prepare-se para parar no local indicado pelo sinal PARE.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 65

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes • Public domain • Original revision 2014-01-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Brazilian Manual Brasileiro de Sinalização de Trânsito (current SENATRAN catalogue): Gov.br • A-15, PDF page 65. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.

4. Warning for an uncontrolled crossroad

This traffic sign indicates a warning for an uncontrolled crossroad. An intersection without traffic signals or signs assigning priority lies ahead. Reduce speed, watch for traffic approaching from other directions and follow the applicable local priority rules.

English • Traffic sign A-6 • Crossroads. Reduce speed and watch for traffic crossing your path.

Português • A-6 • Cruzamento de vias. Adverte sobre um cruzamento de vias adiante. Reduza a velocidade e observe o trânsito que pode cruzar sua trajetória.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 48

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes • Public domain • Original revision 2014-01-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Brazilian Manual Brasileiro de Sinalização de Trânsito (current SENATRAN catalogue): Gov.br • A-6, PDF page 48. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.

5. Warning for a side road from the right

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a side road from the right. A side road joins the road ahead from the right at an uncontrolled junction. Reduce speed, watch for traffic entering from the side road and follow the applicable default priority rules.

English • Traffic sign A-7b • Side road on the right. Warns of a road joining the carriageway from the right.

Português • A-7b • Via lateral à direita. Adverte sobre uma via lateral que se liga à pista pela direita.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 51

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes • Public domain • Original revision 2014-01-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Brazilian Manual Brasileiro de Sinalização de Trânsito (current SENATRAN catalogue): Gov.br • A-7b, PDF page 51. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.

6. Warning for merging traffic from the right

This traffic sign indicates a warning for merging traffic from the right. Traffic travelling in the same general direction may join your traffic stream from the right. Stay alert for entering vehicles and follow the applicable priority signs and local rules.

English • Traffic sign A-13b • Merging traffic from the right. Another traffic stream merges from the right. Adjust speed and maintain a safe distance.

Português • A-13b • Confluência à direita. Adverte sobre a confluência de outra corrente de trânsito pela direita. Ajuste a velocidade e mantenha uma distância segura.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 55

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes • Public domain • Original revision 2014-01-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Brazilian Manual Brasileiro de Sinalização de Trânsito (current SENATRAN catalogue): Gov.br • A-13b, PDF page 55. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.

7. Warning for a roundabout

This traffic sign indicates a warning for a roundabout. A roundabout lies ahead. Reduce speed and follow the applicable priority signs, traffic signals and local roundabout rules when approaching and entering it.

English • Traffic sign A-12 • Circular junction. Warns of a junction such as a roundabout. Reduce speed and observe the entry priority signs.

Português • A-12 • Interseção em círculo. Adverte sobre uma interseção em círculo, como uma rotatória. Reduza a velocidade e respeite a sinalização de preferência do acesso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 62

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes • Public domain • Original revision 2014-01-17. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Brazilian Manual Brasileiro de Sinalização de Trânsito (current SENATRAN catalogue): Gov.br • A-12, PDF page 62. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.

8. Mandatory roundabout direction

This traffic sign indicates the mandatory direction around a roundabout. Traffic must circulate in the direction shown by the arrows. The sign does not itself determine priority; follow the applicable priority signs, traffic signals and local rules.

English • Traffic sign R-33 • Roundabout direction. Traffic must circulate anticlockwise as shown by the arrows.

Português • R-33 • Sentido de circulação na rotatória. Determina que a circulação na rotatória deve ocorrer no sentido anti-horário indicado pelas setas.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org (Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0)
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume I, página PDF 58

SVG source: Amateria1121 • CC BY-SA 3.0 • Original revision 2014-04-09. Wikimedia original unmodified.