Mexican Highways

Posted by - Por Carlo

This year was the first time we drove to Sam Blas, Mexico a journey of around 900 miles. And so, this was our first true experience of the Mexican highway system; a system very different from that in the USA. We crossed the border at Nogales. We knew we had to find highway 15 and, although there are no signs, we figured that if we didn’t turn East or West (or turn around and head North) there was a good chance of stumbling across it. Fortunately, we were correct and after about 15 minutes we saw signs to 15. It was then the adventure really began. Think of a major toll road (New England Turnpike, New York Thruway, etc). Now, imagine that the tolls are a bit more expensive; we paid approximately $15 USD at one toll and well above $5 USD at many others and there are MANY tolls. Also imagine that all the speeds are posted in KPH (kilometers per hour) and all the warnings (my personal favorite is the Tope also known as “speed bump”) are posted in kilometers. Of course we knew that 1.6 kilometers equals a mile so, 110 KPH was about 68 mph and a sign that read “peligroso” (danger) in 1000 meters meant we were about to experience some form of horror in a little over a half a mile We don’t read Spanish well enough to know what to expect until we get to it. And this was only the beginning of the adventure. The speed warning signs switch from 110 (68 mph) to 40 (25 mph) quite often. This could be for construction, a VERY sharp turn (with a 500 foot drop and no guard rail), or (my favorite) because you’re about to drive through some village. Yes, indeed the major toll road cuts directly through towns and cities and, all of a sudden, you are on city streets with all the wonders of traffic lights and pedestrians. If all this wasn’t exciting enough, there are the occasional speed warnings with a sign that looks like a black plus on a yellow background; this means you are about to experience a cross street WITH NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS that intersects the toll road. So, you could be going about 70 mph and see a huge cement truck crossing the road at 5 mph and blocking both lanes. So, my friends in the USA, the next time you are driving on you major highway or toll road, think of our adventures n Mexico, and count your blessing (times 1.6).