In early 20th century Brazil, as automobiles started becoming more common but street lighting was scarce, some local municipalities reportedly enacted peculiar safety measures. One such rule from the 1920s allegedly required drivers to carry a small white flag when driving at night. The idea behind this rule was to signal the vehicle’s presence since headlights were unreliable or absent on many early cars. While official documentation is scarce and may vary between regions, the persistence of this tale highlights how early transport regulations had to adapt rapidly to new technologies and safety concerns. Today, the thought of waving a flag while driving instead of relying on modern lights sounds surprising to most. Although the exact origins and enforcement of this rule are somewhat unclear, it remains an intriguing example of how transport safety evolved in Brazil’s early automotive era.
Source / verification note
Primary sources are limited; this is based on historical accounts and local lore reported in transport history discussions.