Traffic in Brazil

Driving home from the airport today made me laugh quite a bit. It was about a half hour drive from the airport to minha casa em Belo Horizonte and along the way I noticed the traffic was... different from what it is like in Canada. Why? Let me make a short list.

1. I personally didn't notice any speed limit signs but even if there were I think they are more of a suggested speed instead of a maximum speed. Motorbikes especially drove super fast.

2.Stop signs. Also more of a suggestion. If you're making a turn onto a road and you think it's clear, heck why not go as fast as you can to make it?

3.Traffic lights. These are used by most people but to others I think they are more of a suggestion sometimes as well.

4. Switching lanes was actually quite interesting. There is no "waiting for an open/clear spot, signaling, shoulder check then moving over". No. If you need to be in the other lane, switch lanes fast so you don't hit a car. Signals? HA naaahh.

5. Motorbikes honestly just do what they want. It's not like in Canada where a motorbike is generally like a car and has to wait behind cars. If you're driving a motorbike, feel free to squeeze your way in and out of the line up of cars. Don't slow down or anything either, go as fast as you can.

Funny how I noticed these things all within a half hour of driving.