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Driving in Mexico an Unconventional Hazard
Jun 06 2008 by Courtney Messenbaugh
6/6/08
Hazard Lights Shine Bright on Mexican Roads
Our family recently spent a splendid week in Los Cabos, Mexico. Everyone had a great time; a local in the grocery store shouted across the aisle to my husband, "How many babies you got in there — two, three," pointing to my protruding belly (there's just one in there, amigo); we ate delish frijoles and tortillas; and my son learned to say "hola" (emphasis on the "la") and met a sweet little girl named Paula (also heavy on the "la"), for whom he still holds a flame.
In addition to all the pleasures, though, we also noticed some hazards in Mexico. I'm not talking about the drinking water or the dangerous intersection of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, I'm talking about hazard lights — the kind on your car. Mexican drivers use their hazards constantly. Several years ago, when my husband and I were just crazy, unmarried kids in love, we took a road trip through the interior, more provincial towns of Mexico and noticed the same hazardous phenomenon. We were then and are still now oddly smitten and somewhat amused by this universal use of hazards at the drop of a sombrero.
It doesn't matter what's happening; many Mexican drivers are apt to turn their hazards on a dozen times or more during any regular drive. If they're slowing down to take a turn, they hazard (notice I did not write that they "utilize their turn signal," thus when they do turn it's often a surprise). If traffic is moving along at a good pace and then slows, they hazard. If traffic is moving along and doesn't slow, they also hazard periodically. If they're looking for a parking spot, they hazard. If they're backing up, they hazard. It appears to be a local tradition — at least, I can't find any Mexican laws that specifically require this elevated use of hazards.
I've also discovered that there is virtually no consensus here in the U.S. about the proper use of hazards. The only requirement seems to be that automobiles have them. After that, it's a use-at-your-own-discretion sort of game. I may start using mine a bit more often, just to pay homage to our neighbors to the south. As I said, I'm pretty charmed by the whole thing. Por qu� no?
User Comments
My husband is Mexican, and I lived in Mexico for over a year. They do use their hazard lights often. If there is danger ahead, you are to put on your hazards to warn approaching cars. The hardest thing for me was the use of turn signals. Often times, heavy trucks who had a difficult time getting up hills or slow vehicles will put their left turn signal on when there is an opportunity to pass them. This was nice, except that I did not want to put my life in their hands. They could not always see well enough to determine if someone could pass. Then there were the instances where they put on their left turn signals and I started to pass before I realized that they in fact were making a left turn.
I regularly use my flashers to thank people for allowing me to pass…two blinks = thank you…picked this habit up in South Africa, where people regulalrly move over to let faster drivers go on their way…in S.A. it is considered good form to thank people for acknowledging the potential of your automobile & stepping aside to allow you the pleasure of exercising it.
I am mexican, live in Mexico City and have been driving here for about 12 or 15 years now - and still alive! It’s not that hard, though. I think it is just like any large city in the world. Yes, we do use or flashers when traffic slows down suddenly, some people use them while waiting for a specific parking spot (not while looking for one)and sometimes while backing up in a chaotic area or when pulling over on a busy street but never while taking a turn or periodically for no reason. Now that I think about it there are weeks when I don’t use my flashers. Mabye just a traditon in Cabo, but I find it quite strange.
This is pretty universal practice the world over in tight, urban areas. In Korea and Taiwan, everybody turns on the signal lights when they want to run a traffic signal, whether a stop sign or three-colored light. It manages to ease fuel economy and promote “harmonious chaos”.