BE ALERT !
Driving in Mexico is definitely a challenge! People who live in Mexico always ask me how I can stand the traffic in the United States. My standard reply: what’s not to like? Most of the time U.S. drivers obey street signs; they don’t stop in the middle of the street to talk to a friend and they don’t park behind you in a lot, lock the car and then walk away. And very rarely do you see someone make a left turn from the far right lane. I know that I am generalizing but I’ve driven the California freeways for most of my life and given the vast number of cars that are on those roads each day the accident rate is minimal. Not so down here. Until recently in order to get a driver’s license you just needed to go to the police station, fill out a form, bring proof of your blood type, and pay your fee. They even let me shave 5 years off my age once.
I think that this has changed now and I think some kind of test is required. Not sure because I just renew mine every two years.
Please keep in mind that when I bought my condo in 1994 not a whole lot of people had cars. And very rarely did you see a woman driving unless they were American or Canadian. I would rather tangle with a Mexican male driver than a Mexican woman driver any day. The woman are brutal and way more aggressive. Again, I am probably stepping on a lot of toes here but I am speaking from experience.
Anyhow, driving is much easier if you know what some of the signs mean and that is what I am going to concentrate on in this blog. Oh, one more thing….I was in Cabo when they installed the first left hand turn signal…no warning…just one day it was there. What a nightmare and some good entertainment. Do not expect to get a lot of time… when that green arrow turns off it does so in milliseconds. Much better in Northern Baja but they really haven’t gotten the hang of it in Baja Sur.
MOST IMPORTANT
Alto: 
(STOP). just like our red hexagonal signs at home.
SECOND MOST IMPORTANT ROAD SIGN
No Estacionarse (No Parking) Sorry I absolutely forgot this in the original post. This sign has big E usually inside of a circle with a diagonal slash through it. (photo coming). Estacionar means “to park”. The reason this sign is so important: You will be towed. If you are not in the vicinity, your license plate will be removed and taken to the police station. If you do happen to return before your car has been towed you can usually pay the tow truck driver but either your license plate or your driver’s license will be taken.(The police have to wait by your car until the tow truck arrives). Your plate or license can be retrieved by going to the police station and paying the fine (minimal, unless you were parked in a handicapped zone). Of course this is a royal pain..you will most likely have to wait in line at the police station. Hint: Many times the red paint on the curb has worn off..if the curb looks like it might have been red at one time don’t take a chance.
Curva peligroso (Dangerous curve)
Disminuya su velocidad (Reduce your speed)
Guarde su distancia (Keep your distance) Easy one…Don’t tailgate!
Si toma no maneje (If you drink, don’t drive) Cabo now has breathalyzer machines. Take heed! More on these in a later blog.
Conserva su derecha (keep to your right)
Utilice su cinturón de seguridad (Use your seat belt) Buckle up…
Cruce de peatones (pedestrian crossing) Pedestrians also have the right of way in Mexico but chances of getting a ticket for not allowing a pedestrian to cross are remote
No rebase con raya continua (No passing with solid line) More often than not you will just see a sign that has two cars side by side inside of a circle with a diagonal line through it.
Cruce de escolares (school crossing)
Una via (one way), Again usually you will see a sign with an encircled arrow with a line through it. Do not turn in that direction…there won’t be any words… just the arrow with a diagonal line. Actually I got pulled over for inadvertently turning the wrong way. They took my license and I went to the police station the following week and paid my fine ($299 pesos ($25USD) and got my license back.
Topes Aah yes, the tope..the ones that really crack me up are the ones that are just painted on the road to fool you into slowing down. My passenger counted the topes on the ride up to San Diego one trip and we only counted the concrete humps. I believe there were 84…very annoying. Please: Do not count on a warning…sometimes you get one, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes they are painted yellow and sometimes they aren’t.
Also a tope: if it looks like a tope and does the job of a tope is it a tope? Yes but it is also called a Reductor de VelocidadSometimes just a diamond shaped sign with a pic of a car going over a bump
Vibradores: The obnoxious cousin of the tope. These are those half circle yellow bumps in the road…you know the ones..the bone jarring bumps that are so very annoying. Sometimes they are small and low but in Cabo I have seen them as high as 6 inches. Not fun!
Poblado proximo: (you are approaching a town) There will be several topes or rows of vibradores; there is never just one tope…if there is one there will be another in about 20 meters.
Desviación (detour) this is where I am always glad to see someone in front of me. These detours are usually confusing!
Retorno (return)…great, you get a chance to make a u-turn. This does not happen often and usually when you miss your turn-off you will have to drive miles before you can turn and go back the way you came.
No deje piedras sobre el pavimento (don’t put or leave rocks on the road) Many years ago (and still) road workers did not have flares and used rocks or lit kerosene rags to warn drivers of construction areas. (Didn’t we used to call those molotov cocktails?
Maneje con precaución(drive carefully)
Zona de descanso (rest area) Always a welcome site and usually just a wider spot on the road. Be careful it’s also usually about 4 inches lower than the road. Usually no baños here.
Puesto de control militar (military checkpoint) The checkpoints that tickle me are the fake wooden soldiers that you sometimes see before you reach the actual checkpoint.You will encounter 6 or 7 checkpoints on the drive from San Diego to Cabo. Driving south they usually wave you through and ask where you came from. Driving north be prepared to stop and have your car searched.
All in all STAY ALERT. Signal even if no one else does. Don’t try to figure out why so many drivers drive with their hazard lights flashing. The best I can come up with is that they intend on driving slow and want to let you know. On the open highway between Cabo and San Diego driver’s will usually turn these on to warn of Policia and cattle. You will be fine…just be cautious and aware.
