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wcasiano
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Driving to Ensenada from LA at night
Hi,
We have driven to Ensenada at night many times for many years. We have 3 small children who sleep he whole way so driving is substanially easier.
However, things being how they are over there, is it still safe to drive eventhough we will be using the toll roads and caravaning? Also, we drive a
2004 suburban and they drive a honda ridgeline....are those cars considered too flashy?!? I've heard many stories about the dangers of driving at
night but are those only for secluded roads or does this also include their main highway (the toll road)?
Thanks,
Wendy
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paul r
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wendy... daytime!...
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fishbuck
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I think the Mexican Hiway patrols guys quit at like 10pm. After that, your on you own.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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El Comadante Loco
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I have been driving baja since the 1960's and I have always had a common sense rule DO NOT DRIVE AT NIGHT.. and this was way before all the problems..
For the sake of your kids drive during the day... you will be safe...
Keep in mind that many of the assaults have occurred on the toll road at night...
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DENNIS
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Nights are for partys....not driving in Mexico.
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woody with a view
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okay, i'll poke my head up for this one.
the days (and nights) of toll road assaults are like, 2 years old now. the toll road is in the best shape it's ever been in (watch out for the road
work around k55?) and it's only 1.5 hours from the border. keep together - like bumper to bumper, safety in numbers if it helps soothe the
psyciiii.....
as long as you know your route i wouldn't think twice about it. now if we're talking the desert regions, no i wouldn't do it. we always time our trips
so that we're climbing through the hills past maneadero around sun-up.
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CaboRon
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Nights are for partys....not driving in Mexico. |
Many drunk drivers ......
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woody with a view
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
Nights are for partys....not driving in Mexico. |
Many drunk drivers ...... |
can be said about anywhere, at anytime of the day.
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rpleger
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woody in ob is right on...It´s as safe as driving anywhere in the Homeland at night...just be careful...Have a great time in Mexico...
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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BooJumMan
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Heh, rule is never to drive at night in Baja, but, I always do. Since the violence though, I've changed my rule. I'd rather be safe than sorry. Just
use your own common sense I guess!?
Personally I'd wait till day.
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Lee
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No amount of convenience is worth putting yourself and the kids at risk. Even if the odds were in your favor and nothing had been reported
recently on that road, no one would be at blame except you if there were a problem.
Listen to your intuition. Don't take unnecessary risks in Baja.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody in ob
can be said about anywhere, at anytime of the day. |
Well, what is one to do when he's too drunk to walk?
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k-rico
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I often drive from San Diego to where I live in Playas de Tijuana after dark. My biggest concern is the potholes on the highway along the border.
There are some big ones now and they are tough to see at night. The right lane is the best.
I also drive occasionally from playas to Ensenada and back on weekend nights. I'm not worried about anything, except the ordinary stuff.
It's heads up driving though, lots of high speed drivers, especially after midnight on weekends. And there are always a few cars on their last legs
going half the speed limit that you don't see in the states. They're probably the most dangerous aspect of night driving.
Road hazards and accidents are more likely to be a problem than anything else. It's good to be concerned, especially with kids in the car, just
remember what the most likely problems are.
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astrobaja
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Hi Wendy,
Welcome to the forum! Driving is the most dangerous daily activity we do as so called modern human beings, nighttime driving increases the risk no
matter which country it takes place in. The drive to just Ensenada I myself would'nt think twice about a nighttime trip, its a piece of cake.
South of Ensenada its another story, just cause its so windy and mountainous. Try not to cave in to the "fears" about Mexico which seem so prevelant
in present day America, I find Mexico a breath of fresh air to live in!
cheers
Mike
[Edited on 7-1-2009 by astrobaja]
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tripledigitken
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Wendy,
I used to drive that stretch at night every trip south......until 2 years ago. I don't do it anymore and that would be my advice to you, your family
and friends. This has been discussed here frequently over the last several years and the consensus is to cross the border at daybreak.
Have a great trip.
Ken
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Mike99km
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I do it with my family at least once a mouth. No your cars are not flashy. Go have a good time. 
You live the life you settle for.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W. C. Fields.
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bajasammy
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Hi Wendy!
We make that trip several times a year without incident. Have a great time!
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GregN
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Don't drive at night in Baja. Period. The hazards are manifold: drunks, animals, pedestrians, rocks and debris, etc. Add drug traffickers, thieves,
and pseudo cops and you're risking a lot for a little time.
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mtgoat666
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wcasiano
Hi,
We have driven to Ensenada at night many times for many years. We have 3 small children who sleep he whole way so driving is substanially easier.
However, things being how they are over there, is it still safe to drive eventhough we will be using the toll roads and caravaning? Also, we drive a
2004 suburban and they drive a honda ridgeline....are those cars considered too flashy?!? I've heard many stories about the dangers of driving at
night but are those only for secluded roads or does this also include their main highway (the toll road)?
Thanks,
Wendy |
i used to drive at nite. no more. why risk being robbed, hijacked or murdered? just because highway assaults have been out of the news for a few
months doesn't mean it is safe. high crime rate against foreigners all over north baja is indication that people are still plotting crimes against
gringos,... doesn't make sense to make youself an easy target
[Edited on 7-1-2009 by mtgoat666]
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rpleger
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You do what you want, but driving at night in Los Angles is as dangerous as the pay road to Ensenada at night.....below Ensenada is real Baja and its
a good thing not to drive at night...Have a good time in Ensenada...
Richard on the Hill
*ABROAD*, adj. At war with savages and idiots. To be a Frenchman abroad is to
be miserable; to be an American abroad is to make others miserable.
-- Ambrose Bierce, _The Enlarged Devil\'s Dictionary_
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