This is Part 3 of my 6 part post on Driving in Mexico. Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6
How to drive in Mexico
If you have never driven in Mexico (or most any country foreign to you) the prospect can be intimidating to say the least. The thought of dealing with new laws, customs, and attitudes, many of which unfamiliar, has lead many would be drivers to take a bus instead.
So, how to drive in Mexico? 3 simple rules:
Rule #1: The “Me First” Rule
Mexicans are some of the nicest, most hospitable people in the world. But put them behind the wheel, and many become some of the most impatient people in the world. If you are in a driving situation where it looks like another car may be able to jump in ahead of you, assume they will… even if that results in what you would consider being cut off (you’ll have to adjust your perception of what constitutes a cut off). Remember the “Me First” Rule (and make a little room for the other guy) and your driving experience will go much more smoothly.
Rule #2: People in Mexico drive aggressively
Mexican drivers are much more aggressive than American and Canadian drivers. Refer to Rule #1. When you are getting started driving in Mexico, just relax and let the other guy go. Pretty soon you’ll begin to see the flow, the method to the apparent madness of Mexican driving.
Rule #3: Drive Defensively
Refer to Rule #1 and Rule #2. Many American and Canadian drivers drive around half asleep on autopilot. In these countries people tend to follow all the rules and the roads have lots of clearly visible signs, lines, shoulders, large arrays of traffic lights, and a high degree of organization. In Mexico, this is not always the case. Actually, it’s seldom the case. Keep your eyes open and always check your blind spot.
These rules seem pretty ominous but my intention is not to scare you away from driving in Mexico, I designed them to help you stay on your toes when you first start driving here… After a little experience, you’ll wonder what I was worried about.
A small town near Sayulita, Nayarit
One more thing you should keep in mind if driving or even walking in Mexico. I call it sensory overload. When you go to a place that is completely new to you and so much new information bombarding you from all sides, your brain may have trouble seeing things, or rather interpreting what it sees.
When I first came to Mexico, it was completely new to me. A new country with new rules, new sights, new sounds, new language, new everything. Shortly after arriving, I had a conversation that went something like this: A friend said to me “Lets go in to that hardware store,” gesturing to a building across the street. I responded, “That’s a hardware store?” I was standing in front of what was obviously a hardware store, but my brain simply could not process what it was seeing. A lot of people find themselves on sensory overload for a few days after arriving in a new place. It goes away once your brain gets itself around the new images, but until then, consider yourself dangerous.
In Part 4, how to cross the border with your car. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment if you have any questions or remarks.