Strategies to Safely Drive Across MexicoHaving just driven from Austin to Ajijic Mexico I want to tell you about Strategies to Safely Drive Across Mexico. I have chosen to do this because I have been repeatedly asked about safety in Mexico, and more specifically, the safety of driving across Mexico. I will break this down into what I do to prepare the car, then planning the route which we have used several times, and lastly the strategies we use on the road. Preparing the CarMy wife and I own a 2015 Subaru Outback which is mostly driven for our trips back and forth to Austin. I have it serviced by the Subaru dealer in Austin on every trip to the US. That means I get it serviced a lot more frequently than recommended. I had the battery die on the first trip down and I replaced it with a battery I purchased at AutoZone in Ajijic. I later replaced it again 2 years later while I was back in Austin. Other than the battery the car has performed flawlessly. The one thing you cannot plan for is flat tires. I have not had a flat tire on my car but I have had many flats on my bicycle using the same roads. As the car is all-wheel drive, it is not recommended you drive long distances using the small spare. I replaced all of the tires at about 45K miles, long before new tires were recommended, and had the best tire mounted on a new rim. That tire is now mounted on the roof in a Yakima rack as a spare I also have an electric pump, jumper cables, and a Durlast jump starter. I am prepared if I ever have a battery die or get a flat tire. This is important because Mexico is a vast and beautiful country where you may be miles from anything. Planning the RouteThe trip from Ajijic to Austin is about 950 miles and we have done this in 2 and 3 days. Do not attempt to do this one day because you never drive at night. There are 2 reasons you do not drive at night:
Take your time and enjoy the drive. Border CrossingNext is to pick your border crossing. The Customs and Border Protection Agency has an excellent website that will give you current and historical wait times entering the US. The wait times can be hours if you cross at the busiest time of day. This is only for entering the US from Mexico. We have now made six round trips from Ajijic and Austin. On the first three trips, we went through Laredo/Nuevo Laredo. There are many bridges to choose from and there is a large and efficient immigration office in Nuevo Laredo. We stopped crossing in Laredo as the highway between Nuevo Laredo and Monterrey has become too dangerous during the pandemic. Check out the US embassy security alert to learn more. We have crossed on the last two trips at Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras, which is now our preferred crossing point going both ways. Current RouteOur route now to Austin is:
The return route is:
Days of the Week to DriveWe stay on toll roads and federal highways. The toll roads are by far the best but they are not always available. These roads are built for truck traffic. The volume of truck traffic going from Central Mexico to the border and back is mind-boggling. The trucks do not exceed the speed limit unless their load is empty. Many trucks are pulling 2 trailers so they are pretty loaded down. In fact, passing through many of the mountains passes the trucks are going up pretty slowly. We like driving with truck traffic and have been told that is the safest time to travel. We always drive Monday – Thursday and crossing the border on Tuesday or Wednesday. The biggest safety risk is the border areas primarily around Nuevo Laredo. Our goal is always to cross the border as early in the day as possible and minimize the amount of time we spend in the border areas. Strategies for DrivingSince the beginning of the pandemic, we only stop for gas, which we do every 2-3 hours. We bring all of the food we need for the day with us. When we stop I buy between 300-400 Mexican Pesos worth of gas. This is one of the strategies for not getting scammed at the pump. You can learn more about this in the video from Two Expats in Mexico 5 Gas Station Scams to Watch Out for in Mexico. We have 3 groups of money in the car.
You may notice that we never mention using a credit or debit card. I ONLY use my debit card at major stores like Costco or at restaurants that I am a regular customer. I never use my credit card. Take Your TimeYou will notice that we do not plan on driving much more than 6 or 7 hours in Mexico. There are so many things that can delay you and remember about not driving at night. We have been delayed by the following:
This is Mexico, you need to be patient and to expect the unexpected. Lastly, I do not exceed the speed limit in general. Though I encountered very few police on the roads compared to the US and even fewer with radar guns, I do not exceed the speed limit. I like to get behind a truck that is going near the speed limit usually, 100 kph or 62 mph, and follow. Take your time and you will find this is an enjoyable trip! If you are interested in following our journey as expats check out the previous blog posts and podcast episodes here. Marc MillerLike what you just read? Share it with your friends using the buttons above. Like What Your Read? Get Career Pivot Insights Check out the Repurpose Your Career Podcast Do You Need Help With …The post Expat in Mexico Update – Strategies to Safely Drive Across Mexico from the US appeared first on Career Pivot. Expat in Mexico Update – Strategies to Safely Drive Across Mexico from the US published first on https://skillsire.weebly.com/ via Tumblr Expat in Mexico Update – Strategies to Safely Drive Across Mexico from the US
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
About UsThe world is changing and the speed of changes is increasing every day. There is a time in our lives when we realize that we can not rely on others to bring us what we want and need in our life. I am a lifestyle coach and my mission is to help people discover their inner power and guide them on their path to freedom, success and how to design our luxury lifestyle. I offer courses on how to be successful in online and home based business. How to design your personal freedom. And I also offer personal mentorship. Take care and enjoy
|