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Driving in Mexico Tips
1. Speed Bumps All Over
There are tons of speed
bumps all over the place in Mexico
. Since speed limits are
not followed, the government and citizens resort to using them to force
drivers to slow down.
Sometimes they will be
marked with yellow and white paint and accompanied with yellow warning
signs that give the approximate distance until the speed bump. However,
you will not always be forewarned and the only way to become aware of
them is by experiencing them. Expect to find them when passing through
small towns.
2. Watch Your Arms
Be careful about driving
with your arm(s) hanging out of the window, especially at stoplights,
because it is very common for motorcycles to travel up to the front of
the line at a stoplight. They might not see your arm hanging out the
window and cause you a world of pain.
3. Running Red Lights
When stopped at a
stoplight, after it turns green, make sure to look both ways and wait
two seconds before entering the intersection. It is extremely common for
Mexican drivers to run red lights. This is important enough to repeat
again: IT IS EXTREMELY COMMON FOR MEXICAN DRIVERS TO RUN RED
LIGHTS!
Also, don't be surprised if you see
Mexican drivers anticipate a green light and pass through the
intersection before the light turns green.
Furthermore, if you are stopped at a
stoplight at night and there is no cross traffic, don't be surprised to
see Mexican drivers disregard a red light and pass right on through.
This is especially common among taxi drivers.
4. Carrying Dangerous Cargo
Be cautious of vehicles that
carry gas cans on the outside of their vehicles. It would sure be a
dangerous situation if you where to run into one of them.
Kaaa—booooom!!
5. Roundabouts
Roundabouts are extremely common
throughout Mexico
. When
entering the roundabout, the drivers already in the roundabout have the
right-of-way.
Also, when traveling within the
roundabout, make sure to look on the outside corners for the stoplights.
Oftentimes keeping track of them can be confusing as you may not be sure
which stoplight goes with which intersection. Keep in mind that other
drivers may get confused as well and blow through the intersections
without noticing a red light. Always keep a sharp eye when you enter a
roundabout.
6. Using Turn Signals
Even though not using a turn signal when
switching lanes can result in a fine in
Mexico
, few use their signals.
Well, I should say that few use it for the purpose of letting other
drivers know they are changing lanes.
In
Mexico
, the left turn signal is
oftentimes used to signal that it is okay to pass on the left. This is
used mostly on two-lane highways and most frequently by truck drivers
because they are usually those that hold up traffic.
As you can imagine, you should use extreme
caution when you see a left turn signal because a driver may be
switching lanes when you believe they are signaling to you that it is
clear to pass them.
We suggest that you only pass if you see
the driver motion with their hand out of the window or see that they
indeed are using their turn signal to indicate it is clear to pass by
testing what they do when oncoming traffic passes by.
7. Metric System
and Speed
When you are traveling in
Mexico ,
be aware that all signs will use the metric system. This
means that the speed limit you see of "120" does not mean 120 mph rather more like
75 mph. If
you own an American vehicle, you can find the markings for kilometers
per hour under the markings for miles per hour on your speedometer.
But, let's go over the conversion and
common speed limits anyway. . .
1 mile =1.6 kilometers
Common Speed Limit Conversions:
40 km/hr = 25 mph
60 km/hr = 37 mph
80 km/hr = 50 mph
100 km/hr = 62 mph
110 km/hr = 68 mph
120 km/hr = 75 mph (usually only seen on toll
ways)
8. Police Sirens
Generally, police drive with their siren
lights on at night. If they want to pull you over they will either
flash their headlights at you, pull up alongside you and signal with
their hands for you to pull over, or give you a few beeps of their
megaphone system. This takes some getting used to being as how in the U.S. police only flash their sirens
when they are trying to pull you over.
9. Excessive Use
of Warning Flashers
Warning flashers (you know
that little triangular button on your dash used for vehicle breakdowns)
are used much more often in
Mexico
and for more situations than just car breakdowns. In
Mexico
, flashers are used to
mean that traffic up ahead is slowing down rapidly or has come to a
complete stop.
Also, warning
flashers are used whenever anyone backs up, which includes while
parallel parking.
10. Construction
and Lack of "Change Lane" Signs
In the U.S we are used to
seeing those big arrow signs letting us know that a construction zone is
coming up and we must change lanes. The Mexican equivalent is one or two
construction workers waving a red flag to signal that you should switch
lanes. Always be looking up ahead for these guys I would sure hate to
have that job!
11. Objects on the
Roads
As you are driving, be on
the look-out for objects on the road. In
Mexico,
you will find a lot more items on the roads, especially on roads that
are used by many truck drivers. Oftentimes, trucks spill their
cargo because they are overloaded. Some common items to find on the
road are large rocks, pieces of wood and fruit such as watermelons,
cantaloupes and mangos.
In addition, be particularly careful for
livestock, especially cows, horses and goats that often wander onto
roads. Most Mexican roads do not have fences to keep them off.
12. Avoid Night
Driving
Driving in
Mexico
at night should be avoided
at all costs. Most roads are poorly lit at night and sometimes large
animals such as cows and horses wander onto the roads and are impossible
to see at night.
Also, we have heard of
stories of robbery where people have been driving at night on roads
where there is little traffic. Vehicles have pulled up alongside them
and forced them off the road, eventually holding them at gunpoint and
stealing their vehicle.
If you must drive at
night, make sure to take toll ways and not the freeways for the added
security and better lighting.
13. Flashing
Headlights to Pass
When someone flashes their
headlights at you from behind, they are asking you to move over so they
can pass. This is quite common and not considered to be a rude gesture.
14. Using the
Left-Hand Lane
The left-hand lane on four-way highways is
only used for passing. It is not considered to be the "fast lane" such
as the case in the United States
. Once you are finished
passing, return to the right-hand lane.
15. Turn Fast
MEXICANS WILL NOT SLOW DOWN AND
KEEP MUCH DISTANCE FROM YOU WHILE YOU ARE MAKING A TURN!!!
Watch in your rear-view mirrors as you turn and don't turn too slowly.
16. Foreign
Insurance Not Honored
Foreign liability coverage
is not recognized in Mexico. Since all vehicles must
carry civil liability insurance while driving in Mexico, this
means that you must buy civil liability coverage from a Mexican company.
17. Freeways vs. Toll Ways
For driving long distances, there are
usually two options: toll ways and freeways. In many instances the
toll way is the better option, usually because it is built to avoid some
of the steep and treacherous terrain of
Mexico
. However, this is not always the case.
Oftentimes the freeway is better than the toll way, but finding this out
involves trial and error.
If you are traveling through Mexico and
aren't familiar with the good freeways, we suggest you take the toll
ways.
Also, if you must travel at night (we
recommend that you don't) always take the toll ways.
Lastly, if you are ever traveling in
severe weather, you should take the toll ways.
18. Added Highway
Lane
On two-lane highways,
there is oftentimes a shoulder area that is about a half a lane wide on
both sides. These half lanes are used for slower vehicles to move over
into when someone wants to pass on the left. It is extremely important
that if you are one of those vehicles that is going to pass on the left,
that you look to see if another driver from the oncoming side is
thinking of doing the same. If you don't, you could be involved in head
on collision.
19. False Police
Oftentimes you will see vehicles that look
like police vehicles. They even have siren lights on top. However,
these are privately hired security guards and not the real police. They
cannot arrest you or give you tickets. They will be distinguishable by
their lower quality vehicles.
20. Vehicle Leases
and the Border
If you are leasing your
vehicle and have yet to get the official title, you will need to get a
notarized letter from your lender accepting responsibility for your
vehicle while in
Mexico.
If they refuse to provide this, you will not be able to bring the
vehicle across the border into
Mexico
21. Hidden
Stoplights and Signs
A very dangerous problem
that exists in many cities is that trees often obstruct stoplights or
signs. You should be extremely careful because it is easy to run
stoplights because they are hidden.
22. Stoplights
Many stoplights will blink
green when they are about to change, then change to yellow for only a
second and then immediately turn red.
The major difference is that
since the stoplight blinks green to warn that it is about to change, the
amount of time it stays yellow is considerably less than what we are
used to.
23. "Vuelta Con
Flecha"
This is by far the most
important street sign you need to know. "Vuelta con Flecha" means that
at a stoplight you may only turn with a green arrow. You will see this
sign (white and has an arrow) hanging on the stoplight.
Another way to know that
you may only turn with an arrow (sometimes the sign isn't always
present) is if you see 5 slots for lights (vertical or horizontal) you
can pretty much bet that it is turn on green arrow only.
24. Lateral Lanes
Some streets have what are called
lateral lanes. These lateral lanes run on
the furthermost right and left-hand sides of streets creating a middle
lane that is separated by medians with trees and grass.
These lanes are important because they are
the only way you will be able to turn left or right. If you wish to
take a left-hand turn, you should get in the right lateral lane and move
into the leftmost lane of that lateral lane. If you see a stoplight
with five slots for lights (vertical or horizontal) you can pretty much
count on the fact that there is a left turn arrow. You may only turn
with the green arrow.
25. Might Makes Right
Whereas you might technically have the
right-of-way at an intersection if you are on the right-hand side, there
is a steadfast rule in
Mexico
that “might makes right.” So, watch out! Even though you may have the
right-of-way, if another vehicle is bigger than you, they may help
themselves to this right.
26. First Aid
Kits
Packing a basic first-aid kit and carrying
an emergency water supply in your vehicle is a necessity if you take
long trips across
Mexico
because of the desert like climate.
27. Hitchhikers
Don’t ever pick up hitchhikers. Not only
because of the obvious risk to you and your passengers’ safety, but also
because they may be transporting narcotics. If at one of the military
checkpoints, narcotics are found in your vehicle you will be held
responsible. Your vehicle may be confiscated. This includes marijuana.
28. Military
Checkpoints
You will encounter
military checkpoints if you are traveling across different Mexican
states. Generally, the military personnel, even though they may be
intimidating due to the fact that they carry heavy firearms, are usually
quite pleasant. They may ask you where you are going, where you came
from or if you are transporting any plants, fruit etc.
29. Sleeping in
Your Vehicle
Never sleep in vehicles along the side of
the road because the roads are usually poorly lit at night.
30. Narrow Bypasses
When approaching a bypass where only one
vehicle can pass at a time (i.e. a one-lane bridge on a two-way road),
the custom is that the first vehicle to flash their headlights will
have the right-of-way.
31. Laws as Suggestions
Most drivers in Mexico consider
the traffic laws more like suggestions than cold, hard laws. Don’t be
alarmed if you see drivers run red lights when they see that no other
vehicles are crossing through the intersection, drive the wrong way on
roads, and hop over grass medians to head in the other direction.
32. Street Names
In big cities, street name signs will
oftentimes be posted on buildings rather than on actual street signs.
33. Changing Lanes
If you wish to change lanes and nobody
will let you in, you can roll down your window and point your arm toward
the area you wish to get to. Most of the time the other drivers will
allow you to change. There is no need to be afraid to do this and
almost every time you will be allowed to pass over.
34. Vehicle Visa
and Personal Visa
When bringing your vehicle
into
Mexico you will get two visas: one
for the vehicle and one for you. As long as your personal visa is
current, your vehicle visa is current as well.
This is according to
Mexico's customs law 106 and many
traffic officials are not aware of it. For this reason, it is a good
idea to carry a copy of this law in your vehicle.
35. Crazy Delivery Drivers
Watch out for drivers that deliver goods
such as pizzas, chinese food, etc. These goods are usually delivered on
motorbikes. The drivers are known to go the wrong way down roads, weave
in-between vehicles and follow extremely close.
36. Toll Ways
and Exits
Watch very closely to road signs along
toll ways, because if you are on a toll way and you miss an exit,
oftentimes there is no way to turn around and get to that exit until you
reach the end of the toll way. This really stinks when it happens,
because you will be charged for using the toll way the initial time you
missed the exit, another charge for using the following toll way to turn
around, and another charge to use the same toll way again that had your
exit.
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