Close Call

[Tequila]

On our way to Tequila, a semi lost its trailer. It careened across the road in front of us and clobbered another truck on the other side. If we had been 5 seconds further along it would have wiped us out. I googled this and found out this is not uncommon in the US and Canada and just not in Mexico. Scary. One reason I give semis a wide berth and get by them ASAP.

[tepetapan]

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Oncoming big rigs pass by quickly, but when I overtake and pass a big rig, I roll up the passenger window. I have seen three incidents where big rig tires have blown out when a car was alongside. Two resulted in shattered passenger window glass, the third a trip to the hospital because the window was down. All three were Mexicanos.

Your stories remind me of Pigpen in the Peanuts comic strip. Always a dark cloud hanging over your head.

[MEXICOWANDERER]

Oncoming big rigs pass by quickly, but when I overtake and pass a big rig, I roll up the passenger window. I have seen three incidents where big rig tires have blown out when a car was alongside. Two resulted in shattered passenger window glass, the third a trip to the hospital because the window was down. All three were Mexicanos.

[moisheh]

This past week the USA ended he test program of Mexican trucks entering the USA. Not enough trucks participated in the program. Something like 95 % of the crossings were from one Company. CEMEX, one of the world's largest cement companies. Their trucks put many USA trucks to shame. The trucks we all see at the border are mules. They haul trailers into the border zone. They do not go further North.

Moisheh

[briansue]

Some pretty sketchy vehicles on the road down there. Actually, thanks to NAFTA, they may be Mexican too. . .just sayin'.

Actually, very few trucks from Mexico go any further in the US than the border distribution/transfer warehouses. This has been discussed previously on this forum - maybe last year. It has only been very recently that trucks from Mexico have been allowed in the US - way past when the NAFTA agreement was supposed to allow them in. Lots online about all this. There are very strict requirements and inspections that trucks and drivers must pass at the border before being allowed in the US. Most Mexican truckers are not interested in entering the US. Many US trucking companies have their trailers going to/from Mexico but they switch tractors and drivers at the border.

A couple years ago we were driving I-10 between Deming and Las Cruces, NM when a 5th wheel went by us at a pretty good clip. There are signs along that stretch saying to go slow due to wind. About 10 miles down the road the 5th wheel was upside down in the median and both the 5th wheel and the pickup looked like they rolled a few times. The 5th wheel was totally destroyed and in a million pieces all over the median. Good thing the median is wide there or they could have wiped out a few cars on the other side.

[Tequila]

RonYVickie wrote:
Wow - right place - right time ! Glad you're all ok. I checked your track - have fun in Villa Corona. Is PV next ? We're in Villa Celeste - Maz tomorrow, PV the next.

Lo de Marcos, Tlaquepaque on Monday, Boca beach Sat

[bighatnohorse]

Yesterday a 22 year old young man was driving to work on Hwy 17 here in the Phoenix area.
A big rig truck driver fell asleep. . .traffic had slowed and the trucker plowed into his car and caused a chain reaction damaging and injuring many.

The young man was trapped in his car and burned to death.
He had a job, a beautiful girl friend and his whole life ahead of him.
Driving is always a game of Russian roulette no matter how good one's driving skill may be.

[RamblinManGA]

Hi from AZ. . .so you guys haven't been thru Texas lately, eh ? Some pretty sketchy vehicles on the road down there. Actually, thanks to NAFTA, they may be Mexican too. . .just sayin'. . . regards, Craig

[iguana07]

Lucky for you! Glad your OK. Accidents can happen anywhere! Not sure those are frequent in the U.S. or Canada.

WOW we have seen some tires and brakes on some trailers in Mexico. Could not believe they were on the road. If you have driven in Mexico you are bound to see a truck with dog leg rears, bald tires and iffy brakes. Not many truck safety stations in Mexico that I can remember.

So again not close to what you will find in Canada or U.S.

[moisheh]

jtomich: Not at all. I did not state anything like that. I have a CDL and understand what has to be done to keep a truck safe on American roads. On Mexican roads it is double that! Very few drivers in Mexico do a pre or post trip. Although the big trucking companies are right up to date with good trucks and good drivers there are thousands of small outfits or one man shows that should not be on the road. Nothing to do with anyone's intelligence. Have you ever looked at the tires on some 18 wheelers in Mexico? Scary. Have you seen the age of some of the trailers? Have you seen the number of roll over accidents. Have you seen the gravel trucks all beat to hell? Mex's post was far worse than what I stated. But is also the truth.

Moisheh

[jtomich4]

So Moisheh, are you asking us to agree that THEY (all Mexicans) are intellectually challenged, technically inferior, strategically disadvantaged?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

que suerte!

I harp the fact that it is accident prevention to focus on in Mexico not the ghost of Pancho Villa. Damaged knees, ankles and feet from cobblestone paved streets, holes in sidewalks. Pluck your magic twanger sidewalk guy wires holding up telephone poles. Insanely poured concrete steps, ski jump grade wheelchair ramps, awning braces plenty high enough for short Mexicans, and duck pond crosswalks. Quack quack, quack smack...

[RonYVickie]

Wow - right place - right time ! Glad you're all ok. I checked your track - have fun in Villa Corona. Is PV next ? We're in Villa Celeste - Maz tomorrow, PV the next.

[amandasgramma]

We watched a brand new John Deere Tractor doing somersaults off a trailer heading right toward us one time. The driver of the trailer had NO tie downs. He apparently set it on the trailer and assumed the brake would keep it on. 🙂 NOPE, didn't.

[moisheh]

Rarely happens on a highway. If the 5th wheel did not lock the trailer will usually drop at the first turn. But being this is Mexico one does not know if the 5 th wheel or the king pin was 40 years old and metal fatigued. They would never think of checking these items!

Moisheh