Road narrowingBrazil
Traffic rules
Brazil
1. Road narrowing
A road narrowing is a section where the available width of the road or carriageway becomes smaller. The narrowing may occur on both sides, on one side only, or because one or more traffic lanes end.
Drivers should reduce speed, observe approaching and adjacent traffic, maintain sufficient lateral clearance and merge when necessary. Warning signs do not always determine priority, so drivers must follow any priority signs, lane markings and local traffic rules.
What does a road-narrowing warning mean in Brazil?
Brazilian warning signs distinguish road narrowing on both sides or on one side. Regulatory signs and the Traffic Code separately govern priority and the safe passage of vehicles through the restricted space.
Warning for a road narrowing.
English • Traffic sign A-21a • Road narrows on both sides. Reduce speed and adjust the vehicle's position.
Português • A-21a • Estreitamento de pista ao centro. Adverte que a pista se estreita dos dois lados adiante. Reduza a velocidade e ajuste a posição do veículo.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 80
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-21a, PDF page 80. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.
Warning for a road narrowing on the right.
English • Traffic sign A-21c • Road narrows on the right. The carriageway narrows on the right ahead.
Português • A-21c • Estreitamento de pista à direita. Adverte que a pista se estreita pelo lado direito adiante.
Sources
🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Gov.br • CONTRAN/SENATRAN: MBST, Volume II, página PDF 80
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-21c, PDF page 80. Intentional educational illustration update from the previous PNG; original SVG unmodified.
Does a narrowing warning give you priority in Brazil?
No. A warning describes the reduced width, rather than allocating priority or setting a numerical speed limit. Follow any separate priority signs, signals and meeting rules, and slow enough to pass safely or wait before entering.
What should you do if traffic lanes merge at a narrowing in Brazil?
Read the lane-ending signs and markings, check surrounding traffic and signal any lane change as required. Apply the local merging rule and enter only when safe. Do not assume the driver in an ending lane always has priority, or confuse merging with meeting oncoming traffic.
