Drivers Guide to Merida
Driving in Mexico is somewhat different than driving in Canada. Is there an "understatement of the year" award? Someone, please contribute my opening sentence to that competition.
I come from a land of well-intentioned regulation. Lanes on the road are well defined. Driving in the correct direction on a one way street is understood, obeyed and if necessary enforced. You do NOT make u-turns. While I expect there are rules and regulations governing driving here in Mexico, they really don't matter. There's a general concensus as to proper driving behaviour and unless you're driving a taxi (who have their own rules - that is, there are no rules) everything operates quite well.
If I was to deduce the driving regulations it would be as follows:
Driving lanes:
These do not exist. If it looks like at some point in time lanes were painted on the road, these were put there as a make work project and are for decoration only. What we would consider a two "lane" roadway is appropriate for three cars, two cars and two motorcycles, one bus and one car or various other combinations that fit without damage.
Right of way:
If you are ahead of anyone on the roadway, you have the right of way. Do whatever you want - it is for those behind to avoid you. If you're behind someone who navigates across two "lanes" to make a turn, let them get where they want to go. If you're asleep and don't see them you obviously shouldn't
be driving.
Vehicle Type Pecking Order:
Bus - just get out of the way.
Transport truck - operate under the assumption they cannot see you.
Mini Bus - the drivers have all trained for the Formula 1 race circuit but must stop whenever anyone waves at them (every block).
Taxi - can always make a right turn on red,
though 98% of intersections don't allow those. No speed limit applies to the taxi.
Car - run with the pack.
Motorcycle - fill gaps between other vehicles, always move to the front at a stop.
Bicycle - crazily enough, people make room for bikes meandering around. They must feel sorry for them. Otherwise - unsafe at any speed.
Police car - ignore these. They drive 10 km under the "speed limit" with their lights flashing day and night.
Pedestrian - the lowest of the low. They must run for their lives if a vehicle approaches, even in a
parking lot. There is one exception where the pedestrian rules. A raised cross-walk, painted yellow and red. By setting foot on one of these speed bumps, the pedestrian is elevated to god-like status. They are sacrosanct. These crosswalks are usually around schools and hospitals and since the population here dearly love children and are sympathetic to the ill, pedestrians can fleetingly, feel safe.
One way streets:
The majority of streets in Merida Centro are one way. This works pretty well but causes some minor issues which are solved with Yucateco logic. Let's say I am stopped at a stop sign on my one way street. I'd like to keep going in the same direction but the continuation of the street I'm on is 20 meters to the right and the one way system I must turn onto makes me turn left. No problemo. Get someone to put up a sign that it's okay to go both ways on the one way street for 20 meters.
One way streets can become two way streets for a block or two just because. There is no signage to indicate this aberration - you've just gotta learn that's the deal on this bit of roadway.
If you think you can tell which way the one way street is directed based on the direction parked cars are pointed you are very wrong. Park on whichever side of the street you'd like in the direction that
pleases you. Shady parking spots are numero uno and hard to get.
U Turns:
Make a u-turn whereever you want. You don't want to be going this way, you want to be going that way - so go that way!
This may all sound chaotic but I've got to admit I enjoy driving here. It makes me smile and often chortle (yes, I chortle) when I see drivers doing things we wouldn't dream of doing north of the Rio Grande. Drivers operate under the assumption you are paying attention. They don't want to hurt you or damage their vehicle - they just want to get somewhere. And they do.
 |
| Look Ma, No Lanes |
If I was to deduce the driving regulations it would be as follows:
Driving lanes:
These do not exist. If it looks like at some point in time lanes were painted on the road, these were put there as a make work project and are for decoration only. What we would consider a two "lane" roadway is appropriate for three cars, two cars and two motorcycles, one bus and one car or various other combinations that fit without damage.
 |
| The Ever Present Poodle Truck |
If you are ahead of anyone on the roadway, you have the right of way. Do whatever you want - it is for those behind to avoid you. If you're behind someone who navigates across two "lanes" to make a turn, let them get where they want to go. If you're asleep and don't see them you obviously shouldn't
be driving.
Vehicle Type Pecking Order:
Bus - just get out of the way.
Transport truck - operate under the assumption they cannot see you.
Mini Bus - the drivers have all trained for the Formula 1 race circuit but must stop whenever anyone waves at them (every block).
 |
| Combi |
though 98% of intersections don't allow those. No speed limit applies to the taxi.
Car - run with the pack.
Motorcycle - fill gaps between other vehicles, always move to the front at a stop.
Bicycle - crazily enough, people make room for bikes meandering around. They must feel sorry for them. Otherwise - unsafe at any speed.
Police car - ignore these. They drive 10 km under the "speed limit" with their lights flashing day and night.
Pedestrian - the lowest of the low. They must run for their lives if a vehicle approaches, even in a
 |
| Pedestrian Survival Zone |
One way streets:
The majority of streets in Merida Centro are one way. This works pretty well but causes some minor issues which are solved with Yucateco logic. Let's say I am stopped at a stop sign on my one way street. I'd like to keep going in the same direction but the continuation of the street I'm on is 20 meters to the right and the one way system I must turn onto makes me turn left. No problemo. Get someone to put up a sign that it's okay to go both ways on the one way street for 20 meters.
One way streets can become two way streets for a block or two just because. There is no signage to indicate this aberration - you've just gotta learn that's the deal on this bit of roadway.
 |
| Grid No Grid |
pleases you. Shady parking spots are numero uno and hard to get.
U Turns:
Make a u-turn whereever you want. You don't want to be going this way, you want to be going that way - so go that way!
This may all sound chaotic but I've got to admit I enjoy driving here. It makes me smile and often chortle (yes, I chortle) when I see drivers doing things we wouldn't dream of doing north of the Rio Grande. Drivers operate under the assumption you are paying attention. They don't want to hurt you or damage their vehicle - they just want to get somewhere. And they do.
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