The information below concerning Brazil is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance. Road conditions in Brazil are not what one would expect from the world's tenth largest economy. No U.S. standard interstate highways exist. There are some stretches of divided highways but signs, shoulders, exits and merge lanes are all haphazard. All major routes are clogged with heavy truck traffic and, for the most part, have two lanes.
Road maintenance is a problem.
There are many potholes, often marked with a tree branch protruding from the hole, and uneven surfaces. Many municipalities have erected speed bumps that may be unpainted and unmarked. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and horse drawn vehicles all pose hazards on even the most major routes. Travel after dark outside city centers is not recommended. Dirt roads are the rule in non-urban areas.