On Which Streets Do You have "Right of Way" North - South or East - West?

Big Daddy's post reminded me to bring this up.

When you are travelling in the village on which streets do you have the right of way, meaning North - South or East - West? Is there any Mexican law for this?

Just look for the stop sign.

east west but I would not trust it.

Copied from ehow:

Mexican law does not have an explicit right of way law, whether it be for cars or pedestrians. In order to avoid accidents, yield when encountering other traffic. Wait to go until it is safe for you. Turn signals are also often overlooked in Mexico, which can cause a lot of confusion for foreign drivers. The best way to keep from getting into an accident is to drive defensively.

Read more: Mexican Driving Laws | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6019025_mexican-driving-laws.html#ixzz21sUxD5xd

east/west....in theory. Or so I'm told.

Big Daddy Mexico wrote:Copied from ehow:

Mexican law does not have an explicit right of way law, whether it be for cars or pedestrians. In order to avoid accidents, yield when encountering other traffic. Wait to go until it is safe for you. Turn signals are also often overlooked in Mexico, which can cause a lot of confusion for foreign drivers. The best way to keep from getting into an accident is to drive defensively.

Read more: Mexican Driving Laws | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6019025_mexican-driving-laws.html#ixzz21sUxD5xd

This information is very misleading. Except for speed limits on the tolls roads, there are no national traffic laws. But the states and cities do indeed have traffic laws. And police to enforce them.

Rosa Venus wrote:east/west....in theory. Or so I'm told.

Generally speaking yes but there are tons of exceptions,best to look both ways and proceed with caution.
When I first moved to Guadalajara I asked a friend about the absence of stop signs,he said that they tried them once but people would take them and make comales out of them,don't know if he was joking but it sounds plausible.

johninajijic wrote:
When you are travelling in the village ....

I was just talking about our little center of the universe given the original question.

All still pure theory, of course. Even here. It's just bumper cars.

Rolly wrote:

Big Daddy Mexico wrote:Copied from ehow:

Mexican law does not have an explicit right of way law, whether it be for cars or pedestrians. In order to avoid accidents, yield when encountering other traffic. Wait to go until it is safe for you. Turn signals are also often overlooked in Mexico, which can cause a lot of confusion for foreign drivers. The best way to keep from getting into an accident is to drive defensively.

Read more: Mexican Driving Laws | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6019025_mexican-driving-laws.html#ixzz21sUxD5xd

This information is very misleading. Except for speed limits on the tolls roads, there are no national traffic laws. But the states and cities do indeed have traffic laws. And police to enforce them.

Which part is misleading. Maybe you should reread my quote from ehow. It seems to say exactly what you just said.

"Mexican law does not have an explicit right of way law, whether it be for cars or pedestrians."

State and local laws do cover this.

The eHow article is full of bunk. Especially about paying the ticket on the spot or at an ATM. Was the author writing this tongue in cheek? Being sarcastic maybe? You don't pay the ticket on the spot. You pay the cop to not write the ticket on the spot.

seisdedos quote - "You pay the cop to not write the ticket on the spot."

Do you mean you should pay mordida?

I've been told that there are three basic traffic laws here:

1. He who is in front, wins.
2. Might makes right--the bigger they are the harder you fall.
3. Only the paranoid survive.

Just treat all unmarked intersections as if they were 4 way stop signs. Make eye contact with other drivers at the intersection before proceeding.

Can anyone name a country, state, province, city, town or village where any documented laws on right of way are understood and followed by more than 50% of the drivers? If my assumption is correct, then you will have a greater than 1 in 2 that the driver entering the same intersection as you will ignore all concepts of right of way. Personally, I assume no one knows them and therefore they all have the right of way ahead of me. I have no intention of proving that I am right from a hospital gurney or a casket!

I never assume I have the right of way. A few days ago driving into Cihuatlan some guy started passing three cars making me (in opposite direction) have to almost swerve onto the shoulder to avoid him. I gave him a 'what the f*uck' wave as we passed and he honked twice .... a thank you maybe?

Neil
The answer to your question is France. Everyone there knows the rightaway laws. The roads are marked, all major roads have the rightaway unless marked otherwise and if two similar roads cross, the person on the right as the rightaway. People on your right have the righaway in roundabouts and you are in the wrong if your rearend a vehicule. End of subject.
I can assure you that a whole lot more than 50 % of the people know the rule and respect it and if not the fines are very big and you get points against your drivers license. Even after all that time away from France still have that one in my head,
Life is not what is used to be over there.

Brigitte:

It is positive to hear that there exists at least one country where the concept is understood! Even with that knowledge, I would probably be inclined to follow my instincts and not press the issue since that concept has served me well for so many years.