Whether you’re planning to drive in Brazil or would like to know if the road your bus is taking is in good shape, one of the best online tools to check updated road conditions for federal highways is the map by DNIT, the National Department of Transportation Infrastructure.
Like many other useful Brazilian online resources, the map is still only available in Portuguese. However, symbols on the map and the tips below will help you interpret the information provided. Here’s how to get started:
- Go to the Map of Federal Road Conditions (Condições das Rodovias).
- Click on the state name in the column to the left, or on the map, which only has the names of state capitals. As an example, click on Rio de Janeiro State (capital: Rio de Janeiro).
- The state map pops up. At the upper left-hand corner of the page, you can see the state population and capital. On the map, you will find all the federal roads in the state, identified by their code (BR and a number).
- Choose BR-101, the coastal highway that runs from Rio Grande do Sul to Rio Grande do Norte, by clicking on the road number.
How to Interpret Chart Information
The chart that shows up has detailed information about BR-101 as it crosses Rio de Janeiro State, divided into five columns: alert, stretch (trecho), the kilometer marks for that streth, condition and observations - showing the cities crossed by that specific stretch.
At the bottom of the chart, there's a legend for the alerts. Green is for "Have a nice trip"; yellow, for "Attention"; red, for "Be Careful"; and blue for "No Information".
If you see a red alert for a stretch of road you would be driving on, talk to locals and ask for more information. Call the place where you're going and find out if they have updated information about the road. Don't drive on stretches with red alerts if you can avoid it.
If you're traveling by bus, you can rely on the information provided by the company you choose. Bus companies have updated information about road conditions and know which detours are available.
