ever-present and affordable taxis, along with ample public transportation make driving a car around the city unnecessary for the majority of visitors - especially those interested in only the centro and zona sul regions.

this said, some prefer the freedom that a personal vehicle provides, especially when driving long distances, and in this case there are several key rules that should be followed to ensure a safe and convenient experience.

traffic in rio de janeiro can be fast and ever overwhelming, especially for anyone who is not used to driving in large cities - a surprising number of buses fill the roads and drive quite fast, along special lanes signaled by a blue stripe on the asphalt.