Date: Fri, 9 Nov 2012 14:34:51 -0600
Reply-To: mcneely4@COX.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
Subject: Re: Enforcers (friday)
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEu+vcKUC8Wy-m16vxMXbuft6ZTeTrDbaKjrQHCUDUbe3WQ@mail.gmail.com>
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---- Don Hanson <dhanson928@gmail.com> wrote:
> O
>
> > All this reminds me of a trip into Mexico on a route with which I was not
> > familiar at the time. A traveling companion and I agreed that I would
> > follow him, since he knew the route and I didn't, though I did have it
> > marked out on a map. I didn't realize that speed was the most important
> > criterion for proper driving to him. Traffic was heavy along most of the
> > route. I truly feared for my safety. Finally, I just gave up trying to
> > follow him, and followed the route we had marked out. I got there ten
> > minutes later than he did, on a 300 mile trip.
> >
> > On the return, I never tried to keep up with him at all. But I did see
> > him, about half way along the route. He had been involved in an accident,
> > and was stopped along the road. The other driver had sped away, probably
> > fearing jail, which is a common consequence of a traffic accident in
> > Mexico. The van my companion was in was not drivable, and we feared he
> > might be jailed also. However, a "green angel" stopped, called the
> > gendarmes and a tow truck, and everything worked out ok. But speed was a
> > contributor to the accident.
> > >
> >
>
>
> Mexico driving is a whole different game. It's not the United States
> and they do a lot of things differently, some things they do much better
> than we do here in the USA.... LIke when you are following a slow Mexican
> truck along a remote winding two lane highway and his left blinker goes
> on.....that means he sees ahead and it is clear for you to pass him....If
> he is turning left, he will pull into the left lane ahead of time, before
> he begins to slow for the turn, and then turn, allowing following traffic
> to pass on the right without slowing for him....
Oh, I know about this rule in Mexico, and use it myself when there, if I am ahead of a driver who wants to go around me. If I can see far enough ahead, I signal to him. But that is not the rule here in the U.S., and on a crowded freeway it certainly isn't sensible driving. A left blinker on a U.S. highway is communication of intent to move into the lane to the left. A guy behind who then jumps over while accelerating is just inviting an accident. But, I try to be alert for such fools.
With respect to Mexico, unfortunately, the part that I used to visit most often, Tamaulipas, has been put off limits by the criminals.
But I hope to go to Baha California in the spring.
David McNeely
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