It is illegal to ENTER an traffic signal intersection when the light is glowing yellow.If there is SAFE room to pull over onto the shoulder the law says you must do so. SAFE does not mean pulling onto a rough section of the shoulder. If you fail to do so and fail to prove (easy to do) that a ditch or rough shoulder prevented you from moving over, stopping for a left turn means you are liable for all damages if you get rear-ended.The above is based on reading leyes de transitos and talking with Highway Patrolmen and transitos de ciudades and municipios. These are universal laws throughout Mexico based on Jalisco laws.The law for turning left of course applies only on rural roads minus signals. This is why Americans get puzzled when the car ahead of them suddenly pulls into an oncoming empty lane to make a left. And left turn lanes out in the sticks consist of a PAVED lane with a stop sign ON THE SHOULDER of the roadway.I know of a half-dozen Americans who could have sworn such a setup is imaginary. They were stuck with tens of thousands of dollars in damages. Believe it that this law is enforced.Thanks to Jefe de SSP Joaquin Baez for sitting with me for hours and explaining Mexican law. He was/is the head of the Petlatlan Guerrero SSP.Corroboration can be had at the office of Jim Lewis. He is a smart cookie when it comes to Mexican traffic laws.

So you have to pull to the right in order make left turn?I guess there are a lot of people in NJ who are from Mexico.lol

NJRVer wrote:So you have to pull to the right in order make left turn?I guess there are a lot of people in NJ who are from Mexico.lolJersey isn't the only state where people make a left turn from the right lane, or drive like they're from a foreign country. :E

Many self-described "experienced" tourists, grumble and curse when a vehicle in front of them suddenly darts into empty oncoming lane and makes a left turn when driving out in the sticks. Where people who do not know better, argue this, is when they spout -- "it is ridiculous to believe that now I am supposed to pull off into a ditch, golf course sand trap or mountain bike grade totally ungraded area. Mexican traffic cops are not that stupid. Let's say you wish to turn left but the graded area to your shoulder looks "iffy" Turn on your RIGHT blinker. NOW if you get bashed from the rear, it is THEIR fault not yours. This is indeed a screwy law, I hate it. But it is the law whether I like it or not. And the consequences of ignoring it are not worth the risk.I asked a cop once "How am I supposed to stop on an amber traffic light?"His reply: You stop when the yellow light is blinking before it goes to solid yellow. A flagrant entry before the very eyes of a watchful transito can end up with a 1,500 peso infraccion. Again there is little wisdom in this particular law and again you will find me irritated by it. The problem is the law is enforced very unevenly. My own key to not breaking this law very often is to drive almost at the speed limit which offers two things: A much better chance of not violating the law -- very irritated drivers which I must ignore.What provoked me to write this was my stopping for a blinking amber doing 25 mph in a 25 kph zone close to home. The @#$%&! behind me who laid on his horn whipped around me into the waiting arms of a Municipio transito. Lights, and the unique squawk of Mexican police cars. Only the strongest of hunches here, but had I ran that amber light that squawk would have been for me.The longest lived accessory on a Mexican car is the turn signal switch. Regardless all drivers know its significance and this really aids me in avoiding close calls.How I control my temper. When another driver acts stupid I vow to do an optional courtesy to other drivers. Let someone merge in front of me, whatever. The act of suddenly whipping around me then slamming on the brakes for a turn is especially challenging. City bus drivers are infamous for doing that.The object of these tips is to help folks have a problem free trip.The moderator has definitely experienced this -- guaranteed.After exiting Mex 14-D from Morelia and at the bottom of the off-ramp there is a stop sign. To get to Zihuatanejo a left turn is required. But it's not a straight left turn, not legally. You cross all lanes and make a left turn onto an on ramp and merge onto Mex 200. A Mexican highway patrolman pulled over a 5th wheel RV'er that was just ahead of me who could not read pictorial signage. I do not know the outcome of that... Please drive safely.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:It is illegal to ENTER an traffic signal intersection when the light is glowing yellow.In the US, it is usually "you must clear the intersection before the light turns red".

Where are you finding blinking yellows. Not in Sonora. I got pulled over for going through an amber light. I lectured the Transito: Told him he stopped me as I was a tourist. But he did not stop the Mexicans that went through the red! I went on for a few minutes about Charangas with no brakes, no plate and no DL. He said I would have to go to the police station. I refused and he got in his car and left! It is impossible to be breaking the law for going through a yellow. When did it turn yellow?Moisheh

Probably The Two Most Misunderstood Traffic Infracciones

MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 07, 2018
When an idiot does this in front of me, I lay on the horn hoping a cop will notice. I save it for when the idiot clearly enters the intersection on a red light. If he crosses two seconds too late who is to say he will not do it 10 seconds late?
u
Unfortunately I have ridden with a few idiots. Cutting in and out of traffic and hitting 75 mph down a small pueblo's divided dirt street.

Every last one of them, threw dust and gravel shut off the key ran into the kitchen grabbed a can of cerveza went into the sala (living room) kicked off their shoes then sat on their A$S. Stupid, selfish, dangerous, and ignorant.

I have not to date ridden a 2nd time with double digit IQ fools and managed to disassociate with them altogether.

"Poor Juanito! He almost made it around the twentieth car in the fog".

If I come across a stop sign or railroad crossing...

And see an attached sign saying ALTO TOTAL

I know this is a STRICT stop sign, and exaggerate my stop. Usually there is a cop lurking nearby.

For a while Federal Highway Patrolmen used to hang out a quarter mile beyond a toll road toll booth. They are seeking drivers who forgot to re-buckle. I hope this practice has ended. They did not warn they ticketed.
navegator
Explorer
Nov 07, 2018
The most dangerous light of the red, amber and green happens to be the green light, more accidents happen when people are desperados and slam on the gas as soon as the red goes to green with the other proverbial idiot running the amber and red light, when driving in Mexico, wait 3 to 4 seconds before you move, this also aplies to the USA by the way to many idiots wanting to beat the signal or the train.

navegator
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 07, 2018
One solution is to lay on the brake lights for a few seconds before switching on the turn signal. It helps with most situations except idiots who would drive on a sidewalk to save a few seconds.

I always assume when I cannot visually corroborate it that someone will run a full red light. Slow, gentle and easy is the best solution I have found. I am fitting side indicator amber LEDs to the toad to help in traffic.
daveB110
Explorer
Nov 07, 2018
Sorry to drive off the exact topic. But some other perhaps less popular traffic concerns are out there as well. Like how the left turn signal is perceived in Mexico. This may not be a problem for Mexicans who grew up with how this is done, but for others driving in their country it requires thought. While following someone, especially a slow truck, if you see the left start blinking on the truck, they are either signalling you to pass, or signalling that they plan to make a left turn. In city driving, and wanting to turn left, I've been advised use you blinker and to put your arm out the window and point out this next move...and watch that the vehicle behind is not attempting to pass you.

A recent trip from east to west of driving in the US made me realize that I had never seen the flashing amber lights that get placed prominently, so that approaching vehicles can know that a red light stop, is ahead. These lights are in use liberally, across Canada. They save on brakes and contribute to road safety, with a realization that intersections are often where accidents take place.
Talleyho69
Moderator
Nov 04, 2018
PV is a totally different animal. We were "told" the correct way to do things by several people passing us the first time we took our RV into town. Prior to that we were tent campers in a Blazer, so followed the car rules.

In PV, you MUST drive the laterals if you have any size, and as we know, defined as towing something or having dual real wheels. Even if you don't have any size, you make your left turns from the lateral.

It's the place that, if you are ever going to be ticketed, it will happen.

Mexico is fabulous, wonderful, we are so fortunate to be able to live here. We never forget we are in a foreign country due to the traffic rules, currency, language, wonderful people........ Paradise!
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 04, 2018
YIPES!
The pullover-to-the-right to make a left is for un-signalled rural areas only. Downtown use the left turn lanes with green arrow lights. The PITA unmarked PV left to stay on Mex 200 is hateful. The pitiful sign is right at the intersection far too late because by the time you get to it chrome is rubbing bumper to bumper.

It's a one in a million shot. Did they ever fix the horrible pavement inside the twin tunnels?

If you travel Mex 200 note the paved improved shoulder left turn lanes, nicely striped with a stop sign. They COULD HAVE WIDENED THE ROADWAY and put the left turn lane in the middle USA and Canada style but they didn't. Now you know why :)
daveB110
Explorer
Nov 03, 2018
Making a left turn to go south in Puerto Vallarta, I never did take to the right lane. It's turn-off always came up unexpectedly. In fact the first time through we missed it, and made it onto the Malecon! Then made a wrong turn and went through the first tunnel the wrong way! But there was one time I caught the ire of a steam of Mexican drivers. I was poised to make the left hand turn, as a car would, was out into the intersection...but...a single person on foot decided to cross my path...on he went...and I waited...the green flashing light may, or may not have expired by the time I began my final short distance to Mexico 200. But the honking of a dozen vehicles met my ears and turned them as red as my face already felt!
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 02, 2018
Agreed slow will attract attention slowER does not. I try to be courteous and give way to faster drivers. No matter the cost avoiding a "choque" is prime duty number one.
Wm_Elliot
Explorer
Nov 01, 2018
It's been my experience that Mexican nationals drive faster than US drivers normally do. A 60 KPH speed limit often sees traffic moving at 60 mph. Driving the speed limit (open roads)in my opinion is not safe - not just from closing speed hazards but it also encourages tailgaters - some who will be inches behind. I do well by keeping up with the flow of traffic. A slow moving vehicle will attract police attention too.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Nov 01, 2018
I think Moisheh caught my error red handed...Thank you sir. I dislike errors.

It is not the blinks of amber it is the blinks of the green semafora,

Here it is 5 blinks lasting about 5 seconds before the semaforo turns solid yellow.

It is a discretionary thing, as to whether a transito will go after a violator. When someone crosses before me clearly violating a red light I blow my horn. So far three transitos have then given chase.

I do understand the profiling I do not approve of it. Too many cops have a belief that gringo drivers sneer at the police and Mexican law. So if they see a violator with non Mexican placas they pursue. It is not correct just like it is not correct to pick on Mexicanos north of the border who may be doing nothing wrong.

By driving closer to the speed limit, other drivers may get cranky but I have had far fewer transitos and patrullas federales take an interest in me.

"They are driving fast so they can arrive home sooner and have more time to do nothing" Works For Me I always chuckle at the thought.

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