Mexico Trucker Online

I just returned from my third trip this year to Celaya and wanted to share a few thoughts on the experience.

Driving in Mexico

For the third time, I have returned from a 1200 mile round trip to the interior although this time it was not a trip of pleasure.

A few things I have learned from the experiences. Almost without exception, the other drivers on the road are friendly and courteous and will not hesitate to stop and assist another motorist who is broke down.

The exceptions? The assholes who drive 100 mph + and tail gate you flashing their lights until you move over. My middle finger got quite a bit of excercise this trip!

Truckers

The truckers on the highways are beyond courteous. Moving out of your way on hills, assisiting you in passing them and unnecessarily letting you know when you have cleared their vehicle. It appears that most of the trucks in Mexico are governed at between 55 and 62 mph as are the buses. 95 kph seems to be the norm here. And as I said, all of them are extremely courteous unlike those in the U.S.

I am still looking for all the unsafe junk trunks that the opponents of opening the border to Mexican trucks. People, they simply do not exist! most of the old 10 wheel DINA’s are being retired or used for farm to market work. New (2004-2006) Internationals of the same configuration are taking their place. But these are trucks for the interior of the country. The lifeblood of the smaller communities. The road tractors are the same as what you will find on U.S. highways, maintained to the same level of mechanical and safety standards, perhaps higher than their U.S. counterparts.

Roads

The roads? As you will see in the photos, are top shelf! Well maintained and built for speed. The speed limits vary from 80 KPH (55mph) to 110 KPH (68mph) but there is little enforcement. Not that there is not a Police presence on the roads. It seems enforcement of speed is not a top priority.

Federal Highway Police & Others
Let’s touch on the Police for a moment. The entire trip, and I used the free roads and stayd off the toll roads for the most part, The Federal Highway Police in their black and white cruisers were very much in evidence. Watching traffic and assisting stranded motorists and occasionally, you would see them with a big truck pulled over doing a safety check on it. These guys are professionals. Young, educated, well groomed and proud of their profession.

Other police agencies were in evidence, most specifically state police units but again, they were patrolling and did not look twice at the gringo in the Suburban. Even when I passed them with the cruise on 80 in a 55 mph.

A lot of you have had troubles with the Transito or Vialidad cops (traffic cops) in the past as have I when I lived in Cd. juarez. I have always been a little leery of them. However that is rapidly changing. For example, in Monterrey, I had a couple of motorcycle cops on big Harleys pull up next to me and ask me very politely to fasten my seat belt. Nothing more, just a reminder. Friendly and professional. The same thing in Celaya. A transito cop on a dirt bike motioned for me to do the same thing from two lanes of traffic over. Seat belt use is obligatory in Mexico people.

More on the transito though. this trip, I had to go to centro in Celaya to pay the light bill and double parked in front of the municipal palace while Ileana went in to pay. A transito cop, a young kid maybe 20 years old who was directing traffic came up to the window and in perfect English asked how long I would be there and why. We had a nice conversation and he allowed me to wait for about 15 minutes in a no parking zone while business was conducted with CFE!

Society and Schools in Mexico

Monday and Tuesday past were school holidays for all the children in Mexico in celebration of The Bi-Centennial birthday celebration of Benito Juarez! Monday afternoon, we took the two younger kids to one of the many city parks in Celaya to ride their bikes and for us to relax. These parks are fantastic. Many high shade trees. Palms and Oaks coexisiting. Extremely clean and well lighted with antique lights and benches you would have see in parks at the turn of the century in Hometown America. And in the middle of it all, a huge bandstand built in the victorian style.

But what amazed me the most was to see all the father’s in the park with their children, mostly daughters, enjoying quality time with their children. You don’t see that in the U.S. anymore.

Wednesday morning found us at the PanAmericano primary school that the two younger ones attend for an awards ceremony for sports. Refreshing to see the children presenting the flag of their country, formally, while the students and adults saluted their flag and sang their national anthem. It seems that in the U.S., everyone wears their patriotism on their sleeves while persuing individual agendas. Here, in Mexico, it is simple pride and patriotism for their country instilled in the people from birth. Another amazing thing! Prayer in school! They began and ended the assembly with a prayer! I didn’t see anyone become offended or walk out and go crying for a lawyer because they felt their rights were violated! I wonder? Who has the better society?

Thursday, the day I have to return to Nuevo Laredo, we go to the older children’s school for the monthly meeting with the school directors and parents one on one! This is a concept I like and think should be instituted in the United States. In Mexico, all parents are involved in their children’s education. At these meetings, parents talk one on one with a director of the school who reviews the childrens progress, grades and test scores from the previous month. Report cards are not sent home with the children but given to the parents at the meetings.

Something else came from this meeting that might quiet those amongst us that complain about Mexicans not speaking english. The man we met with spoke perfect english and thanked me for speaking to him in my language. His credentials were impressive and in the course of our conversation, he explained that most Mexicans whon can speak english, and amongst the educated class of this country, it is the majority, welcome the opportunity to speak the english language but have very little opportunity to do so. Something to think about folks.

All in all, and despite the purpose of the trip, a very enjoyable mini vacation. I would urge anyone with a sense of adventure to contemplate a road trip in Mexico. Stay off of the toll roads and enjoy the scenery and the people you will encounter on the free roads. And while I think about it, the warnings against driving at night in Mexico are too old to worry about. Most of my trip, both coming and going was made at night, well into the early morning hours! There is plenty of traffic and gas is available 24/7. The only dangers are the occasional slow moving car or pick up with very dim lights or a goat or mule that might wander into the highway.