Driving and Safety Tips in Mexico

By Alan Kohl

With more than 40 years experience driving in Mexico as a tourist and in business, I have been enlightened to a fundamental rule of driving in Mexico: EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED compared to what you are accustomed to at home. Most accidents involving visitors to Mexico are a result of the visitor not expecting or anticipating an unaccustomed or sudden change in traffic or road conditions.

For tourists, the single biggest cause of motor vehicle accidents on the highway in Mexico is the narrow roadway with almost no shoulder. If there is a shoulder at all, the drop-off from pavement to shoulder is usually several inches, so when a right side wheel drops off the pavement it almost certainly results in an accident, with the vehicle very frequently rolling over, causing significant damage to the vehicle and injuries to the occupants. Is this kind of accident in Mexico avoidable? Sure it is.

Even if the vehicle doesn’t flip when a wheel drops off the pavement it frequently results in slicing the inside sidewall of the tire.

Driver attention is enormously more important in Mexico because the roadways are much less forgiving than the wide, four lane highways with wide shoulders off the pavement that we are spoiled with in Canada and the US.

On a recent trip to Mexico we were traveling on a typical two lane highway, towing our camping trailer. Out of curiosity I stopped and measured the pavement from the center line to the right hand edge of the pavement: The lane was 11 feet six inches wide with an immediate 6 inch drop off the pavement on the right side.

Our trailer is 8 feet 4 inches, meaning that when driving down the middle of the lane (at 60 miles per hour) there was exactly 18 inches to spare on either side of the vehicle. By comparison, the Interstate Highway system in the U.S. has over three feet of tolerance on each side of the vehicle, with no drop off on the right side.

Besides driver attention, here are a few other pointers that may make your Mexican trip safer:

• Be positive your vehicle is in top mechanical condition, especially the suspension and tires.

• If you plan to drive at night, be sure the headlights are properly aligned for best lighting results

• Understand the width of your vehicle vs. the width of the highway you are traveling in Mexico. This is even more important if you are towing a trailer that is wider than your tow vehicle.

• Don't drive as fast on two lane highways in Mexico as you would on two lane roads at home.

• Slow down when you enter small towns in Mexico, being watchful for pedestrians, dogs, buses, carts.

• Watch for “Topes,” the famous Mexican speed bumps. They are frequently unmarked.

• Avoid driving at night in Mexico, but if necessary, wait outside a town for one of the many highway buses to go by, and then follow it at a safe distance of 50 yards or so. Let the bus run interference, and allow sufficient room to stop if necessary.

• If you don’t have a turning lane, don’t make left turns off major Mexican highways if traffic is coming up behind you.

• Be especially vigilant for very slow moving vehicles, at any time.

• At night, don’t be surprised to overtake a slow moving vehicle with no lights showing from the rear. They may not work!

• Don’t rely on brake lights on the vehicle in front of you as the only warning it is slowing down.

• “If you have a choice, take Mexican toll roads vs. the free ("Libre") roads. Mexican toll roads are much safer. Note: It is much easier to pay tolls with pesos so the Mexican toll booth employee does not have to convert dollars to pesos.

• Mexico’s “Green Angels” help motorists.
  
  Mexico’s Department of Tourism operates a fleet of trucks like the one pictured here, whose purpose is to help motorists with roadside mechanical problems. They travel all main highways in Mexico at least two times daily. The drivers are polite, professional, and bilingual.
  
  If you are out of gas, have a flat tire, or a mechanical problem, the Green Angels will fix the problem or arrange for reliable assistance to get you back on the road.
  
  P.S. If you receive service from a Green Angel, don’t forget to offer a gratuity to show your appreciation.

• Means STOP

• Understand one-way street markings. Some helpful hints for driving on Mexican roads:

• The one-way signs in Mexico are usually attached to buildings 10 feet or so above ground level

• The signs in Mexico are only about five inches high x 2 feet long and easy to miss

• Streets going in the direction of the GREEN → arrow have the right-of-way

• Streets going in the direction of the RED → arrow must yield the right-of-way

• When in doubt, it’s always safer (and smarter) to yield

• Know your route; if you get lost, don’t wander. Pull over and get oriented.

• If you can’t get oriented, consider hiring a taxi and follow it to where you want to go (paying the taxi when you arrive).

• Watch for pedestrians, hand carts, bicycles

• Understand the flow in traffic circles

Vehicle theft is as much a problem in Mexico as in Canada and the US. The difference is that a stolen car at home isn't nearly as disruptive as it is while on vacation or business travel in another country, such as Mexico. Here are some tips that may protect your vehicle while traveling in Mexico, and save a lot of aggravation on your trip:

• If your vehicle is equipped with an anti-theft alarm, USE IT!

• Tourist vehicles are targets, and are easily identifiable from local Mexican vehicles.

• Avoid on-street parking if at all possible.

• Use paid parking lots where available and DO NOT leave the parking ticket in your vehicle.

• The bigger the Mexican city, the greater the risk.

• The large Mexican border cities are especially problematic.

• If you must park on-street, try to keep your vehicle in sight or check on it frequently.

• Stay in hotels and motels that offer 24 hour security in a secure parking area.

Logically, most people leave their Mexican auto insurance policy in their vehicle, right? But what if your vehicle is stolen? On a separate piece of paper, write down your Mexican auto insurance company, your Mexican insurance policy number and the telephone number of your Mexican insurance company to report insurance claims. Keep this Mexican insurance information in a wallet or purse so you will have it in case your vehicle and insurance policy are stolen, while in Mexico.

If you have an accident or insurance claim in Mexico, you must report it to your Mexican insurance company before you leave Mexico. Failure to do so may result in your insurance claim not being covered by your Mexican insurance company.

Your insurance policy contains a page titled “What to do in Case of an Accident” and includes the 24 x 7 toll free telephone number to call, in case you have an insurance claim to file while you are in Mexico.

Your insurance claim will be attended by an insurance adjuster dispatched by your Mexican insurance company. The insurance adjuster will make a written report which will detail damage to your vehicle. You will be asked to sign the insurance report, so to avoid discrepancies later, be sure you understand what you are signing.

Make sure all damaged parts of your vehicle are noted on the insurance adjuster's report. If your vehicle left the highway during the accident, check for damage underneath it and make sure it is noted in the insurance report. Otherwise, the Mexican insurance company may not absorb any of the additional cost to repair this damage.

Be sure you receive a copy of the insurance claim adjuster’s report.

• Use common sense during your stay in Mexico.
   

• Pesos vs. Dollars: Simplify your life and your stay in Mexico! Mexico’s currency is the Peso, so it is much, much easier to pay for your purchases with Pesos.

  If you do pay in dollars you will probably pay more because it is up to the merchant at the point-of-sale to determine the exchange rate.

  It doesn’t get much more confusing than buying gas with dollars while in Mexico - converting dollars to pesos and liters to gallons!

  A good place to buy Mexican pesos is to use an ATM machine, which we find give the best exchange rates
   

• DIESEL FUEL: The USA EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) low sulfur diesel requirement went into effect with diesel engines manufactured in 2007 and newer.
  
  We have not heard of problems caused by diesel fuel in Mexico and we have friends who have logged 100’s of gallons of diesel without a problem.
  
  As a result of a recent (October 2007) question about diesel fuel in Mexico I called a diesel expert in the Service Department of Cropper Chevrolet in Nogales, Arizona and asked him what he knows about the question. He explained there are two issues with the new (2007 and later) U.S. mandated low sulfur diesel engines and diesel fuel from Mexico:
  
  1. Clogged injectors
  
  2. Emissions test failure: Burning the higher sulfur Mexican diesel leaves a residue in the exhaust system that is detected by emissions testing equipment in the U.S. resulting in test failure.
  
  In response to our question about using a diesel fuel additive the expert from Cropper Chevrolet said it is definitely NOT recommended because the additives damage seals and other parts.
  
  We are far from experts on this subject. Our recommendation is to check with a diesel engine specialist before you leave.
   

• Remember, you are a visitor in Mexico and things may be done a little differently than at home.
   

• A smile and a friendly attitude go a long way toward gaining cooperation and friendship of the Mexican locals.
   

• If speaking English to a non-native-English speaker, speak slowly and clearly and avoid using slang.
   

• If you have questions or need help, perhaps we can help. Call 1-877-774-2868 in the U.S.

Have a safe trip and be sure to enjoy all of Mexico’s natural, historical and cultural beauties

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