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Fishmagician
Nomad
Posts: 102
Registered: 4-23-2012
Location: Encinitas
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Driving Mex. 1 at night..
I have a friend who has durive some of Mex 1 and he shared his opinion with me,,,"don't drive at night, and if you do, you need a cow catcher and
bigger lights on it." I imagine the road is not well marked with center lines and side lines, and only natural lighting (night time pitch black) so he
may be right. One of the suggestions I got from one our kind Nomads was to put reflectors on the left edge of my trailer (8.5' wide)...if it's too
dangerous to drive at night then the reflectors don's need to be put on the trailer. What do the rest of the Nomads think of driving Mex. 1 at
night???? 
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Fishmagician
I have a friend who has durive some of Mex 1 and he shared his opinion with me,,,"don't drive at night, and if you do, you need a cow catcher and
bigger lights on it." I imagine the road is not well marked with center lines and side lines, and only natural lighting (night time pitch black) so he
may be right. One of the suggestions I got from one our kind Nomads was to put reflectors on the left edge of my trailer (8.5' wide)...if it's too
dangerous to drive at night then the reflectors don's need to be put on the trailer. What do the rest of the Nomads think of driving Mex. 1 at
night???? |
if you have to ask then you already know the answer=it's up to you!
i would hope you wouldn't install a "cow catcher" but instead a "cow pusher."
the best advise is don't go to Mexico and hopefully the sun will come up.... tomorrow! just kidding,.just go and quit asking for permission!
[Edited on 5-25-2012 by woody with a view]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Right, have done it but only in extreme times... The problem is cattle and burros are attracted to the warm asphalt at night, and cattle like to lay
down on it... and it usually is in a vado (dip) so you don't see the black cows until it is too late.
Other reasons for avoiding night driving is the scenery you miss... some of the world's finest desert landscapes (and yes there are miles of blah
nothing, too). No Green Angel patrols at night and limited help, if needed.
Is it really worth the risk to cut 10 hours? Towing a trailer makes it even harder... the highway is only 19 feet wide, on an elevated levee often,
and no shoulders, or pullouts, most of the time.
Did I mention the chupacabras or banditos?
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burnrope
Nomad
Posts: 214
Registered: 10-24-2006
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Driving at night can be hairy in Baja. There are sections of road that have cattle on them, mostly areas that aren't in the mountains. Then there's
the locals who drive with minimal lighting, which can have deadly results when you use the headlights of on coming traffic to judge wheather it's safe
to pass or not. I've done it, but I don't enjoy it.
[Edited on 5-25-2012 by burnrope]
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
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I dont do it..
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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And in the summer when it's hot the truckers run at night. Full Speed!
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
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Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
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Nope!..never!....i knew too many amigos that bit it there!..not a chance!
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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edm1
Senior Nomad
Posts: 568
Registered: 8-23-2006
Location: Oak Hills, Ca
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No night driving in Baja for me, not until they put islands in the middle lanes!!!
Anyway, I wish you luck in facing the challenge of driving your wide travel trailer through Mex 1, that you will do just fine without incidents. I'm
waiting for the trip report with baited breath.
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dean miller
Nomad
Posts: 456
Registered: 1-28-2004
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DON'T DRIVE AT NIGHT!
sdm
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Marc
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Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
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I only drive at night after drinking.
Just a joke folks.
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SFandH
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 8-5-2011
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I might do it during a full moon.
[Edited on 5-25-2012 by SFandH]
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goldhuntress
Senior Nomad
Posts: 663
Registered: 1-28-2010
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I don't recommend it. The odds of something bad happening go way up.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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I drive at night.
I always will drive behind a truck or RV. Same thing is done on foggy nights going back and forth to Los Angeles on 99
Cow catcher...........that's a great idea for cheap per steaks!
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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bill erhardt
Super Nomad
Posts: 1376
Registered: 4-2-2005
Location: Loreto, BCS
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If as your screen name suggests you like to fish, and you spend time on Baja, you will surely end up driving occasionally on Mex 1 to be where you
want to be at first light when the fishing is often best. Over the past ten years I've logged thousand miles of night driving to and from launch
sites, and lived to tell the tale.
Two practices have made it easier for me:
1. Drive in the early morning dark rather than in the late evening, if you have the choice. You will find less drunks, people hurrying to get home,
and traffic in general.
2. If possible find a rabbit to run interference. Staying a hundred yards or so behind somebody going your way takes a lot of the strain out of it.
A big truck or bus is ideal. let him light up the roadway, blow oncoming traffic back on their side, and livestock off the road.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3894
Registered: 2-9-2004
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The constant hazard driving Mex. 1 - day or night - is the big cargo trailers and transport buses. They need all of their lane, and sometimes 8
inches of yours - especially around tight turns. And there are plenty of tight turns, blind turns. I have been on buses riding at night and they
drive down the middle of the highway. At night, it's more difficult to gauge those inches and if a wind is blowing it's more difficult to control a
large truck trailer. Darkness is simply an added risk. Sundown is around 8 pm now - you can drive 14 hours in daylight - why would you want to
drive longer than that anyway? Ask yourself what you would do in the event of the "worst case" scenario. If you're comfortable with your plan, then
go for it. Personally, I try to avoid trouble.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1663
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
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And don't forget those northbound Scrap Iron trucks - - - and the southbound overloaded Sequnda vans and pickups.
Always a challenge.
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Fishmagician
Nomad
Posts: 102
Registered: 4-23-2012
Location: Encinitas
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Many Thanks
Again, thank you all for the constructive input it's all important. The more I know about the conditions the better planing I can do. I will post a
report when I make the trip south.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3754
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
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Mood: muy amable
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I drive at night
I drive a bit slower than in the daylight (my compadres tell me I am the fastest guy on the track in daylight)
I pay real close attention.
I have never had "issues"
(Hate to say it, but I actually prefer driving at night, less traffic, cooler weather, etc. On some roads we preferred racing at night than in the
daylight, of course we had radical lighting for night driving, which gave much better definition to road conditions than the overhead sun glare)
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3603
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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There are stretches of road where there won't be any cows or goats. Not sure how the Cabo/Todos 4 lane will play out but that road about sunset
use to be bad. Not the whole road but driving along then seeing goats on both sides at the last minute would scare the bejesus out of me. I've
had close calls with a couple cows.
About sunrise along the stretch between GN and Vizcaino one trip saw a cow that had been hit. Guy had to be hauling as this cow was scattered for a
hundred feet along the road. Blood everywhere. Guy must have survived as he wasn't in the ditch.
Might be some pattern. Don't drive early in the evening or morning. Midnight no problem.
I know a guy who drives all night couple times a year and no problem. If you hit something, you got a problem.
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Sprocket
Junior Nomad
Posts: 67
Registered: 1-3-2012
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I would say NO, why chance it.
Reason 1.
Reason 2
Reason 3
Reason 4
[Edited on 5-25-2012 by Sprocket]
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