BajaNomad - driving to loreto

driving to loreto

armendds - 7-15-2006 at 11:33 AM

I decided to take highway 1 to loreto. I plan to go thursday night. Besides the issue of hitting animals, are there any other contraindications and considerations for driving at night. Thanks.

woody with a view - 7-15-2006 at 11:34 AM

you can see the other vehicles coming around the bends better at night, mostly!

Bob and Susan - 7-15-2006 at 11:45 AM

but they might not see you...

vandenberg - 7-15-2006 at 12:16 PM

And everyone living here will advise you against it. Night driving is very dangerous. Not only because of animals , but also drunken Mexicans in cars with one or no lights all over the road.

bajamigo - 7-15-2006 at 12:47 PM

You're right. The last fatality here in Cantu occurred a month or so ago at night and involved a drunk driver. Oh, but wait a minute---he was American.

Bob H - 7-15-2006 at 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by armendds
I decided to take highway 1 to loreto. I plan to go thursday night. Besides the issue of hitting animals, are there any other contraindications and considerations for driving at night. Thanks.

If you do this please follow behind another semi for protection. Not too closely. And, best of all, good luck!
Bob H

Phil C - 7-15-2006 at 04:59 PM

In the daytime you can see not only the road, but more importantly, BAJA!

capn.sharky - 7-16-2006 at 10:53 AM

I have been driving the road since it first opened and I do not recommend driving at night for many reasons. While it is in better condition now than it has ever been, it is still not a good idea to drive at night. Soft shoulders, no shoulders, blinding lights from on comming cars or worse, no taillights and just a few reasons to wait until daylight. Experience tells me that some will drive at night anyway.....I sometimes see their bodies lying by the road waiting for the meat wagon to come and get them. Have a nice trip.

turtleandtoad - 7-16-2006 at 12:15 PM

Don't forget the animals that like to sleep on the road, the unmarked topes, and the truckers that use rocks in place of flares (and don't take them off the road when they get their vehicle fixed and leave).

Driving at night in Baja is just an all around bad idea. I'm looking forward to your trip report (if you survive).

Roberto - 7-16-2006 at 12:53 PM

This is all BS. And, one of the most repeated BS items. I drive at night regularly - sometimes towing SIGNIFICANT loads (toy Toyota trucks need not apply! :lol:

).

The reasons I do this are:

1. Less traffic.
2. Better visibility of oncoming traffic.

Yes, there are the Polyphemus-like vehicles on the road. Sometimes, no lights at all. But, if you don't have lights that will show this - stay home! I equip myself for the situation with four halogen lights that illuminate the highway (and surrounding landscape) for a good distance. Also, at night, MOST amateurs are off the road, and you are dealing with professional truck drivers. I am much more afraid of the white-eyed RV caravans than the mexican folk that drive the road daily.

Folks, Baja, on Highway 1, is NOT an unpopulated wilderness with nadidos and unimaginable dangers lurking at every cornder- regardless of what the post(s) about the newbie who wants to buy an RV and explore want to imply. There's plenty of road that's pretty average, except for the lack of shoulders.

Just for the record, I have not encountered any bandidos I couldn't talk to, truck drivers that wouldn't stop to let me by (or try to help in case of trouble), or livestock I couldn't see in plenty of time - does that mean go slow around blind corners? (DUH!). It's not the unkown land of aliens - but a land of people you are heading into.

So, equip yourself with what you need (or think you need), inform yourself - and go, have an adventure in BAJA!

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by Roberto]

comitan - 7-16-2006 at 01:01 PM

Roberto

I hope I don't jinks myself but I'm with you, just got back from states 25hrs incl. sleep. San Diego to La Paz.

The only problem I had on the trip- down was a gringo pulling a boat large I think blue in color, pulling out to pass a slower vehicle and there I was, he hit his brakes to pull back in and the boat got crazy but he got it under control with me almost at a stop, hope it wasn't a Nomad!! Broad daylight. Even tho I do this I wouldn't advise it for everyone.

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by comitan]

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by comitan]

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by comitan]

vandenberg - 7-16-2006 at 01:12 PM

Roberto,
Dumb advise. Several of my friends, who didn't heed the " no driving at night " advise, ended up with altercations with cattle, other traffic and junk on the road. Not much fun to be stuck at such occasion in the middle of the night. And what traffic are you refering to ? Once below San Quentin traffic is almost non excistent. So, armennds, heed the Nomads advise and don't drive after dark.

vandenberg - 7-16-2006 at 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by comitan
Roberto

I hope I don't jinks myself but I'm with you, just got back from states 25hrs incl. sleep. San Diego to La Paz.

Comitan,
What you do, sleep during the day ???

Roberto - 7-16-2006 at 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vandenberg
Roberto,
Dumb advise. Several of my friends, who didn't heed the " no driving at night " advise, ended up with altercations with cattle, other traffic and junk on the road. Not much fun to be stuck at such occasion in the middle of the night. And what traffic are you refering to ? Once below San Quentin traffic is almost non excistent. So, armennds, heed the Nomads advise and don't drive after dark.

Dumb advice, huh? Sir, I've been doing this for years, and along with myself so have many people I know who have been travelling the peninsula for years - without incident because we PAY ATTENTION to what we are doing. I do this with my family on board, and I make sure my family is safe when I travel. So, before getting on your high horse, why don't you consider some humility and the possibility of being wrong and just saying "sorry, I disagree"? While you're at it, consider the possibility that you and your friends are incompetent boobs who shouldn't be allowed off I5, and REALLY shouldn't be driving at night in Baja? :moon:

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by Roberto]

turtleandtoad - 7-16-2006 at 01:16 PM

WOW, 4 halogens that light up the road and surrounding landscape. I'm sure glad I'm not one of the people coming towards you!!!. :lol:

So I'll modify my statement. Don't drive at night UNLESS you have 4 halogens to light up the landscape!! :cool:

Roberto - 7-16-2006 at 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by turtleandtoad
WOW, 4 halogens that light up the road and surrounding landscape. I'm sure glad I'm not one of the people coming towards you!!!. :lol:

So I'll modify my statement. Don't drive at night UNLESS you have 4 halogens to light up the landscape!! :cool:

Another smartass. You think I leave these on when others are coming in my direction? :moon:

Just FYI - I have these connected to the high-low beam switch next to the steering wheel (you have one of these, right?) and make sure I turn them off when people are coming my way, the same way most people lower their beams as a matter of course.

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by Roberto]

Roberto - 7-16-2006 at 01:19 PM

I forgot to add - most of the boobs that tell you NOT to drive at night are OFF the road at night. And THAT's a good thing. :lol:

[Edited on 7-16-2006 by Roberto]

BajaTim - 7-16-2006 at 01:47 PM

I have to agree with Roberto. For seven years I drove as a courier , San Diego to La Paz/ San Lucas, and back, twice a week. Aside from flat tires, I never had a problem. LOTS of night driving. As Roberto says, you use your mega-lights judiciously. Tim

turtleandtoad - 7-16-2006 at 01:55 PM

So far we've heard from two apparently "Professional" drivers with special lighting that prefer night driving.

Any non-pro's drivng regular cars out there agree with them?

jamesdbeckjr - 7-16-2006 at 02:35 PM

Even with young eyes I had close encounters at night in my youth.Regular lights and older eyes I have regretted it every time I've driven at night. Keeping edge of road in line while large trucks headlight glare is in your eyes is a particular treat.

capn.sharky - 7-16-2006 at 04:57 PM

"why don't you consider some humility and the possibility of being wrong and just saying "sorry, I disagree"? While you're at it, consider the possibility that you and your friends are incompetent boobs who shouldn't be allowed off I5"

Have you got any idea where we could learn some humility? Perhaps you could share this with us.

Roberto - 7-16-2006 at 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn.sharky
Have you got any idea where we could learn some humility? Perhaps you could share this with us.

That's a good question, and I undoubtedly came on very strong. But, here's the point. Every time night driving is mentioned on this board, there's the whiner's brigade that bemoans the dangers of driving at night as if it were the worse thing you could possible do. Sure there are dangers to driving at night on a narrow road with no lights in the blackness of the Baja night, just as there are dangers to doing it during the day. And, if anyone suggests a different perspective, the "dumb advice" comments and more start to come out.

Now I realize that most people want to drive on wide, "safe" highways, with pushbutton controls and automatic everything, but the reality is that has little to do with driving - more like aiming the vehicle in the general direction of travel and pushing the accelerator orbreak pedal when necessary. That's fine, but it does not mean that people who drive and equip themselves differently are unsafe or even wrong.

[Edited on 7-17-2006 by Roberto]

eetdrt88 - 7-16-2006 at 06:57 PM

i've had a few close calls on the baja highway,all of them in the daytime...had a few people warn me of the perils of driving at night in baja and then a few years back took a trip down to san felipe and left about 10:00 at night,I have to say it was one of the easiest and quickest drives i've ever taken down to baja...I have to agree with Roberto that driving with caution and foresight is the best way to drive down in baja whether it is light or dark :cool:

bbbait - 7-16-2006 at 09:18 PM

I agree with Roberto also. Night driving can be safe as long as you observe all the normal precautions, which they teach you in any basic driving course, i.e., Don't overdrive your headlights, observe the speed limit, etc., and on and on. The thing is, who does all the right stuff? In Baja, most of the local drivers are not on the roads at night, it's us gringos and the Mexican pros in the 18 wheelers and other delivery vehicles running back and forth. And "they" (Mex pros) know the road better than anyone, as they traverse it constantly. You always have to be on your toes, there is always a possibility of animals, faulty lighting and who knows what? Weather plays into it, fatigue (on both sides). But it really isn't much more than you would expect on a similiar road up here in the states. We were chasing Larry Ragland in the Baja 2000 and going about 80mph between Guerrero Negro and Viscaino at midnight and came over a hump with about 10 burros in the bottom of the dip.. Of course we had the big lights etc., and were able to shut down in time, but under "normal" conditions, driving the speed limit, etc., it wouldn't have been a problem either.... So when you put everything in perspective I don't have a problem at all driving at night in Baja.

Bajavestruz - 7-16-2006 at 09:27 PM

Has armendds driven the road to Loreto before?

What I mean is, if this is his first time, he might want to do a daytime run to familiarize himself with turns, vados, topes, etc.

[Edited on 7-17-2006 by Bajavestruz]

David K - 7-16-2006 at 10:59 PM

Jeeze, don't any of you like seeing Baja???

I have driven Mex. 1 at night, but enjoy the desert scenery by day...

Also, coming into a vado at night (west of San Ignacio) to find COWS on the road enjoying the warmth of asphalt will get your blood circulating fast!

I like night driving, but because of the view missed and range cattle, I prefer to drive central Baja by day.

wilderone - 7-17-2006 at 08:56 AM

Despite what some drivers who are experienced in driving at night on Mex. 1, why increase your risks? I have been on buses on Mex. 1 which drive down the middle of the road at midnight. I have driven Baja highways in daylight where the army trucks, overloaded as usual, come flying around a blind corner in your lane - same thing with huge trucks. I have come to a screeching halt to avoid hitting a cow sitting in the middle of the highway. I have come to a screeching halt to avoid hitting an old Mexican truck going 20 mph. I have followed behind a huge truck pulling an uphill grade going 20 mph, and not been able to pass for miles. If you KNOW the risks because you have personally experienced them, then you're way ahead and are in a better position to avoid accidents due to the many risks of driving at night in Baja. Your choice, but it only takes one incident in a split second to change your life.
By the way - the guy who drives with his halogen lights lighting up the desert to he can see at night - thanks for blinding me in the oncoming lane - another hazard.

wakemall - 7-17-2006 at 10:14 PM

Hey,

Regardless of what you are told or people say, DO NOT DRIVE MX1 at night!!! I have thought about doing it numerous times and always figured out it was not a smart idea. Yea, follow the diesel truck for protection.... You going to go 5 MPH up the grades. If yes, drive at night. What happens when the truck driver decides to stop for a taco. You going to buy him the taco?

The problem is drunk drivers around small towns. I have actually stopped and turned off the road to avoid them. I mean a dead stop with them coming at me and turning down steep drop offs to avoid them. Really, it happened two weeks ago south of Loreto. What are you going to do at 55 mph plus.

Disregard the other idiots and do not drive at night on MX 1. Seriously.

Wakemall....welcome to "Baja Nomads"

eetdrt88 - 7-17-2006 at 11:36 PM

from us "idiots" :biggrin:

Sorry Nomads

wakemall - 7-18-2006 at 10:25 PM

Sorry I said idiots. Never meant to affend anybody. Just made the TJ to Loreto trip in one day. I am still scared of the DWI mexican drivers.

an experience

Skipjack Joe - 7-19-2006 at 04:01 PM

I'll never forget this experience I had years ago....

It was about 1AM. I was driving the highway with my parents in the back seat. The lights suddenly illuminated a car in my lane almost right on me. The vehicle was immobile and had all of it's lights off. My headlights revealed a Mexican running across the road toward his car. I don't know what he was thinking. Was he trying to save his car? Was he trying to turn on his lights in time for me to see him? It was too late to use the brakes by the time I saw it all. I pulled the wheel abruptly to the right into the other lane and everything went by in a flash. We stopped a bit further on and tried to regain our emotional sensibilities.

I abided by the "no night driving" rule for many years....

Hook - 7-20-2006 at 12:11 PM

.......but I have begun making exceptions for the stretch from Ensenada to San Quintin or El Rosario. It is so nice to get that horribly traffic-ridden area out of the way at night. Much of the stretch is slow anyway, so the prudent driver should see any animals or cars without lights.

Yep, I do it in that stretch, but avoid it everywhere else. But it's not like I'm gonna cower by the side of the road in the middle of nowhere if the sun goes down. I'll keep driving for, maybe, 2 hours after dark.