BajaNomad - Driving etiquette

Driving etiquette

KasloKid - 12-20-2014 at 09:34 AM

Watch for topes (speed bumps); most every town has 3 of them. Some are marked, some aren't. They'll launch you, especially if you're towing a trailer.

If the driver ahead of you is signalling left, it can mean one of several things:
He's turning left
He's signalling you that it's ok to pass him
He's forgotten that his left blinker is on
It's up to you to determine what his intention is

Make sure you fill up at El Rosario. It's 140 miles to the next gas (Bay of LA -- barrel gas) or 185 miles to Bay of LA to a Pemex. El Rosario to Jesus Maria (Pemex) is 200 miles. Sometimes there's barrel gas at Catavina.

Have a super and wonderful trip !!!

bajalearner - 12-20-2014 at 09:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by KasloKid

If the driver ahead of you is signalling left, it can mean one of several things:
He's turning left
He's signalling you that it's ok to pass him
He's forgotten that his left blinker is on
It's up to you to determine what his intention is

Very true, and add to the list,
He has his 4 way hazard lights on but the right one is inop.
Or, all of the above

AKgringo - 12-20-2014 at 09:46 AM

Don't forget the 'Vados'! Dips in the road that will bottom out your suspension. If there is a sign, it doesn't always tell you how many there are.
If oncoming traffic have their emergency flashers on, expect a road hazard or animals on the pavement (or they forgot to turn them off)
What else needs covering?

bajaguy - 12-20-2014 at 09:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajalearner

Quote: Originally posted by KasloKid

Very true, and add to the list,
He has his 4 way hazard lights on but the right one is inop.
Or, all of the above

Honk your horn just for the fun of it.
Semi's and buses take their half of the road out of the middle.
Passing on blind curves and before the crest of a hill is mandatory.
You will be passed by a vehicle that will pull off the road to the right as soon as he p-a-s-s-e-s you.
Having operating lights on a vehicle is an option, not a requirement.

[Edited on 12-20-2014 by bajaguy]

mtgoat666 - 12-20-2014 at 09:53 AM

Add to that:
Bicyclists should watch out for gringos with inflated sense of road entitlement!
All should watch out for gray hairs and blue hairs driving RVs!

And, remember,....
Slow down and share the road!

Peace out!

AKgringo - 12-20-2014 at 10:02 AM

I thought of a couple more. Never pass a bus on a grade unless you are prepared to maintain a high speed. They take it personally and will pass you back if they can catch you.
Drivers education in Mexico is a Darwinian thing, survival of the fittest. This produces some very skilled drivers, but you never know when you will encounter one that is about to fail his final!

sancho - 12-20-2014 at 10:36 AM

Stating the obvious, and I was often guilty of this back in day,
no excuses just not aware, is driving with a beer between
your legs. I would bet at least 1 BN here does the same.
I often see it in San Felipe.
Seems some look at Baja as a place one can act a little
more carelessly, besides it can invalidate your Mex Ins

bajabuddha - 12-20-2014 at 11:29 AM

Quote: Originally posted by sancho

Stating the obvious, and I was often guilty of this back in day,
no excuses just not aware, is driving with a beer between
your legs. I would bet at least 1 BN here does the same.
I often see it in San Felipe.
Seems some look at Baja as a place one can act a little
more carelessly, besides it can invalidate your Mex Ins

With youth comes brashness; i'm certain more than one of us did both in the States and Mexico. However with longevity comes Mortality. You can lose more than just your Mex. Insurance, as in YOUR LIFE (as well as others') too).

As a comical anecdote, a good friend from Mexicali told me once that in summertime they call Mexicali "La Tierra Del Juevos Hielados" because car A/C was to drive around with a cold caguama of TKT between your legs.

sancho - 12-20-2014 at 12:03 PM

Got in a cab in La Paz, the driver had a custom foam cooler
wrapper, which held his qt.beer. After a summer weekend
camping in San Felipe, after 8 hrs. of drinking, Mexicali
residents will drive home at 5 pm or so, not a good time
to be on the road

Hi Beams

Howard - 12-20-2014 at 12:05 PM

Why is it that in Mexico, or at least Baja, you can drive with your hi-beams on and don't even get a flash of their lights for you to dim yours.

In the states it almost gives the oncoming traffic a right to do a drive by on you for not dimming them.

ncampion - 12-20-2014 at 12:05 PM

I remember one question on the Mexican driver's license test was; " When driving on the highway, which side of the car do you throw the empty beer can out of." Everybody knows it's the passenger side.

MulegeAL - 12-20-2014 at 12:38 PM

When leaving militar drug and weapons checkpoint on a moto, it is polite to ask the man with the machine gun if a wheelie is OK.

When he says "see", it is polite to ask if wheelie should be pico, medio, or grande.

The answer is always "grande!"

So, then it is polite to obey his opinion and hoike a grande wheelie out of the drug and weapons checkpoint.

Repeat as needed to maintain good relations with the mexican militar.

Stop?

AKgringo - 12-20-2014 at 12:41 PM

Here is some more info!
As explained by the La Paz Policia who was extorting me;
Flashing green is the same as yellow in the US
Yellow means stop
Red just means you can't go yet
None of this applied to the Mexican pickup that came through the red behind me.

Metal stop signs on major thoroughfares are suggestions only, unless you have US or Canadian plates.

BajaBill74 - 12-20-2014 at 01:07 PM

If all of the cars in Baja were lined up bumper to bumper, there's always some idiot that would try to pass them.

I can't believe how many idiots there are out there. I have to go 95 MPH to pass them.

Whale-ista - 12-20-2014 at 01:45 PM

Per AKGringo's and other's with similar experience:

For locals, "Stop" signs and flashing green or yellow & red lights are considered **suggestions** (not requirements) to slow or stop.

For visitors: they are **requirements**

Cliffy - 12-20-2014 at 05:32 PM

Be careful of getting too close to the right shoulder of the road. There might be a hole there that will bend a trailer axle!

AKgringo - 12-20-2014 at 05:51 PM

North of Ciudad Insurgentes there are stretches that not only have no shoulder, the pavement is under cut like a cliff in a Roadrunner cartoon, but not as funny!
They were pretty obvious in daylight, so were not marked as hazards. Another reason not to drive at night!
That section of road is new, they haven't even finished it yet! Odile damage.

[Edited on 12-21-2014 by AKgringo]

bajalearner - 12-20-2014 at 08:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Howard

Why is it that in Mexico, or at least Baja, you can drive with your hi-beams on and don't even get a flash of their lights for you to dim yours.

In the states it almost gives the oncoming traffic a right to do a drive by on you for not dimming them.

Why??? Because many Americans are self important and think they are entitled to correct and control other people. Mexicans seemingly go past the problem and continue on without taking it personally. Kinda like live and let live. That's one of the things I like about MX and I'm actually training myself to drive and let drive.

Yeah they're seemingly rude drivers, but I think it's not rudeness in most cases but rather shortsightedness. Only seeing 1 car length ahead due to lack of driver education, or education in general. But I'm in MX, and I'm adjusting to their lifestyle and driving more defensively here.

That's just me...

Marc - 12-21-2014 at 12:26 AM

When driving solo keep the cooler on the passenger seat. It is very dangerous trying to fish out a beer if the cooler is in back, especially on curvy roads. And yes; toss the cans only from the passenger side.

tobianogreg - 12-21-2014 at 08:03 AM

Speaking of driver etiquette, has anyone figured out the traffic circle in front of the Mega in SJD? The only good advice I've received is to make eye contact before moving.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/UEIn8GJIg0E?rel=0

AKgringo - 12-21-2014 at 08:23 AM

No no no Tobie! If they see you make eye contact you will lose the right of way by default.

[Edited on 12-21-2014 by AKgringo]

tobianogreg - 12-21-2014 at 08:33 AM

*chuckle* So, rent the Hummer instead of the economy model?

akbear - 12-21-2014 at 09:40 AM

Look in your rear view mirror before pulling out to pass ! Alway some idiot that wants to get there faster than you.

Dont you just love the younger MX drivers?

durrelllrobert - 12-21-2014 at 09:51 AM

It seems like a large percentage of them have lowered their short wheel base Honda's, etc. to the point that they can't cross a Tope except at an oblique angle with only one tire crossing at a time. Then if you try to pass them, heaven forbid, they kick in the turbo charger just to show you that they own the road.

AKgringo - 12-21-2014 at 09:56 AM

Those were Hondas? Sorry, I thought they were just colorful topes!

bajalearner - 12-21-2014 at 10:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by MulegeAL

When leaving militar drug and weapons checkpoint on a moto, it is polite to ask the man with the machine gun if a wheelie is OK.

When he says "see", it is polite to ask if wheelie should be pico, medio, or grande.

The answer is always "grande!"

So, then it is polite to obey his opinion and hoike a grande wheelie out of the drug and weapons checkpoint.

Repeat as needed to maintain good relations with the mexican militar.

bajalearner - 12-21-2014 at 11:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Marc

When driving solo keep the cooler on the passenger seat. It is very dangerous trying to fish out a beer if the cooler is in back, especially on curvy roads. And yes; toss the cans only from the passenger side.

Especially the cooler with the blender on the top. A blender is good and I like my SUV but none of the 8 cup holders will hold a margarita glass.

durrelllrobert - 12-21-2014 at 12:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

Those were Hondas? Sorry, I thought they were just colorful topes!

You're right and if I drove a Humvee I'd drive right over them. :fire: