When driving in Mexico remember that they drive on the right hand side of the road. Drivers in Mexico do not frequently use their indicators and rarely give way to other road users.
Cars in Mexico are normally not as well maintained as that in UK. A lot of the cars you will see on the road will have fallen into a state of disrepair, especially in the more rural areas. Throughout Mexico in both rural and urban areas you will find that there are a large number of speed bumps.
Speed bumps in Mexico are known as Topes.
These speed bumps are frequently in a state of disrepair and when approaching you will need to be cautious as they may do some minor damage to your vehicle. Not all speed bumps will be labelled or signposted.
When driving in Mexico you will have to keep all vehicle documentation on you. This includes your driving licence, car registration card (tarjeta de circulacion), and insurance records. If you are pulled over by the police they will request this documentation.
Most of the major roads in Mexico and roads into large cities are well maintained. Minor roads and roads in smaller areas often are under developed and poorly maintained. Pot holes are common and not all of them are marked. In Mexico you may come across rocks that have been painted white, these are usually and indication of a pot hole being close by.
They majority of the major highways in Mexico will be clearly signposted. This does not apply on all minor roads. Road lighting can be few and far between so you will have to be cautious when driving at night.
In many of the rural areas in Mexico you will find cattle and livestock roaming freely on the roads. Many cyclists use the roads at nighttimes and very few will have the correctly fitted lights on the bicycle, and they may not be visible to you until you are very close. Very few pedestrians will wear reflective clothing at night time and it may be difficult for you to see them.
Green Angels (Angeles Verdes)
The green angles are usually found on interstate highways to be of assistance to you when your vehicle has an accident or breaks down. They will assist you for any minor repairs needed and sometimes will sell you fuel if needed. The green angels are visible as they ride in green trucks. They are there to provide free help, but a small tip is normally expected. They will also tow you to the nearest town if you require this.
When a minor accident occurs in Mexico you should not be surprised to find that most people will walk way from the accident as insurance is not compulsory in Mexico and many people don’t have any. If a more serious accident occurs it is possible to be arrested in Mexico they work on the legal system ‘guilty until proven innocent’.
Most gas station in Mexico do not except credit or debit cards and have filling station attendents. When pulling into a gas station, specify in monetary terms the amount of fuel you wish to have your vehicle filled up with. Filling attendants will require a tip, this is normally around 10%-15% of the fuel cost, and 5%-10% for any additional services. Fuel stations will be signed PEMEX.