Brazil rideshare drivers confront rising safety and legal risks

In Brazil, rideshare and delivery motorcyclists increasingly rely on smartphones to receive orders and navigate routes. While the devices are essential for income, the practice of using them while riding violates the Código de Trânsito Brasileiro, which classifies handheld phone use as a gravíssima infraction, punishable by a R$293.47 fine and seven points on the driver's licence. Authorities advise that phones be mounted on a support and operated only when the vehicle is stopped.

Incidents involving severe violence against drivers have also been reported. In the Federal District, a rideshare driver was arrested after threatening a passenger with a 9 mm pistol and was found with ammunition. In Serra, Espírito Santo, driver José Sena Filho was fatally shot during a robbery while on a trip, highlighting growing security concerns for app‑based transport workers.

These events underscore the twin challenges of traffic safety compliance and personal security faced by Brazil’s gig‑economy motorcyclists.