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Driving

Driving in Mexico

Reference, by the Miami Herald, MEXICO Edition: Learning rules of driving in the capital, article dated April 7, 2007. The LATEST: Survey finds Miami worst road rage city, POSTED: 7:24 a.m. EDT, May 15, 2007

If you are a new arrival, learn all-you-need to know on the issue of Driving in Mexico, by visiting Solutions Abroad's Getting Started Section, and open the Cars page (also remember if you are bringing your car to Mexico from another country you are required by law to have Mexican auto insurance - Click Here to get an instant quote and buy online). Separate from this issue, we have an article that deals only with Automobile Accidents. Below you will find a number of recommendations on how to drive with an enhanced sense of self-protection around the innumerable streets of D.F. Just imagine: we have more than 25,000 streets and 2,150 colonias in Mexico City, according to its official Site. We suggest that you become familiar with services provided by AMA, a corporation that specializes in a wide range of automotive services to support your needs, to include what I consider is the best Driving School in Mexico. Security Corner is a Community Service and for this reason, we recommend this organization. We do not receive any benefits other than your credit by suggesting this. Actually, there is a second choice: ANA.

Below please find pertinent recommendations, in Spanish, by the Secretariat of (SCT) Transport: Shortest distance between point A and B, cost of road toll booths. Federal Highway Patrol, now merged into the Federal Preventative Police has a special chapter on Crime Prevention for you, to include tips, select with mouse the issue of  your interest:

Crime Prevention, Safety on the Highway

Getting your Driver’s License

• License (PERMANENT) to Drive

• Permit to Drive for MINORS

• No Circula

Before making a move, make sure you understand that the No Circula restriction to reduce air pollution applies to all cars, whether with Mexico City or foreign license plates. The only exception is diplomatic tags. If you violate this law, a fine in the amount of about $ 100 US will be imposed and your car will be confiscated. Make sure you do not drive between 5:00 am -10:00 pm.

ATTENTION TOURISTS!!!

WHETHER YOUR CAR HAS FOREIGN OR OTHER THAN MEXICO CITY PLATES

THIS DOCUMENT

IS FOR YOU!!

Remember: you'll be allowed to drive ONLY between 5:00 am to 11:00 am until you get your permit. The violation to this strict regulation will prompt the police to CONFISCATE YOUR CAR and on top you'll be fined about $ 1,000 pesos. 

Restrictions, according to your license plates' last digit:

Click on above logo to access complete information on the NO CIRCULA for Saturdays effective starting on July 5, 2008 between 5:00 am to 22:00 hours

Monday if your license tags' last digit is a 5 or 6.

Tuesday 7, 8 .

Wednesday 3 or 4.

Thursday 1 or 2.

Friday - 9 or 0. Cars with license plates with letters only may not drive on Fridays. The same, those with temporary driving permits. Updated information by visiting this Site. Environmental conditions permitting, all cars circulate on weekends. Questions? Call 5658-1111 24-hour Locatel service.

In addition, your car twice a year must undergo mechanical testing to prevent polluting the environment, in accordance to the year, model. All details, here.  
 
Drive Defensively

You will be surprised that despite the incredibly large number of cars circulating 24-hours a day, though at nights the number is reduced dramatically, not that many serious accidents take place. Why? Most people drive here offensively. If you are not used to drive as most taxi or bus drivers do, always make sure you drive on the defensive. This means to allow other cars to have the right of way, driving courteously. Beware of your surroundings. Use ALL your mirrors constantly. Turning lights are used not to request a move but to actually warn the driver behind where you intend to go, when he/she lets you. Let fast cars approaching pass you. Do not remain in high speed lanes too long because faster cars than yours will try to pass via the other lanes, risking the chance of a collision. One thing that is quite common here is drivers TURNING ON their headlights to let you know they want to pass. Driving at night on any highway is NOT recommended as there are no physical barriers to stop animals or pedestrians from crossing. Speed limits are mostly ignored, though you should be aware of a new program with the use of potent radars and its positive impact in the community..

Speed Limits, Chase Cars, Basic Security Protection, Breath Analyzer

• The Mexico City PD reflects the speed limit in streets, avenues is 70 kilometers or 43.7 miles and 80 kilometers or 50 miles an hour in speedways such as Periférico, Viaducto and Circuito Interior. By blocking car drivers that want to pass, you are creating an unnecessary risk to yourself.

• Try to stay away from lanes meant for buses, peseras or taxis (normally the extreme right) or clearly marked on Ejes Viales.

• Bodyguards following their principals, easily identifiable in the streets, are a threat to all. It is best to keep a safe distance from them.

• During the rainy season, expect floods in most areas of the city. Have your brakes inspected periodically, make sure your tires have plenty of thread to prevent collisions, skidding. Wet streets pavement is highly slippery. Leave home prepared with your umbrella, raincoat and be patient in traffic jams.

• To the extent possible, use longer routes through Viaducto, Periférico, avoiding traffic lights, especially at night.

• While driving, ladies hide your purses, suitcases, valuables in the trunk or under the seats. Use your A/C. Keep windows, doors always locked. Park in well lit, public lots that have good security.

• Know where you are going before putting your car in motion. Do not learn the hard way. Buy a Map.

Guia Roji

Guia Roji is the most common map available in most stores. Electronically, as well as in your favorite stationary supply store. Once you identify where your destination point is located, trace a route and study it before moving in. I must insist. Mexico City is a metropolis with some 22 million inhabitants that includes the State of Mexico adjacent area. One of the largest cities in the world. It is a good idea –if new to Mexico City- that before you get lost, try to ascertain where you want to go. Pre-establish routes from to home, office, school and become familiar with these. Learn alternate options in the event of demonstrations, accidents, street floods. Driving to, from the AIRPORT

PARKING                                                                                          

Reportedly, the number of cars daily requiring parking in Mexico City is in the range of 1.5 million, daily. According to the Mexico City Mayor’s Office (SETRAVI), there are only 1,216 parking lots officially authorized to operate as of June 2006. A total of 13,600 parking will be in operation, including Polanco and the Pink Zone area. If you leave your car where city meters exist, make sure you deposit the coins required or your car wheels will be locked until you pay a stiff fine. You can pay such a fine online, make sure you have your ticket number. More parking meters are about to become operative in Polanco. Parking is not cheap: 15 pesos an hour in downtown. This is the law that governs parking in Mexico City.

This is the Official Site of Mexico City POLICE DEPARTMENT. With mouse select the issue of your utmost interest, in Section ENTERESE. Should you get a ticket, you have a 50 % discount if paid to the bank of your choice within 30 days. 

Your car towed away by Mexico City police tow truck?

Caught SPEEDING by police radars?

Franeleros or Viene, Viene!!

Parking problems in one of the largest cities in the world are proportional to its size. These have given birth to the Viene, Viene! occupation. More, here, thanks to El Universal newspaper. This is a growing problem, having to pay up to $ 100 pesos per car, according to this La Jornada article. In Puebla, franeleros are registered. ¿Visiting Guadalajara? And now the corporate STOP VALET PARKING In summary, it is of the utmost importance to know where you will park ahead of time.

EMERGENCY IN MEXICAN FEDERAL HIGHWAYS

Phone numbers ALL tested & functioning as of April 22, 2008 to request help in case of car accidents in Mexican federal highways, report a crime, file a complaint against corrupt police officers (all services only in Spanish):

088  - From any landline 
 
TOLL FREE
 
01800-440-3690
01800-833-6262
Switchboard no. 5484-0490 (select service desired) 
Cell phone (Telcel customers only) Dial *112
 
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 
Should anyone wish to present notarized documentary evidence involving a complaint, this must be sent or taken to, in Mexico City:
 
Centro Nacional de Atención Ciudadana
CENAC
Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal
América 300- 1er.Piso
Colonia Pueblo Los Reyes
Delegación Coyoacán 04330 
 
Official Website: www.ssp.gob.mx
 
If for some reason visitors, automobile drivers have received a ticket for violation to federal traffic regulations need information:
 
Try 5841-4300 Ext. 242, 282 and ask for Lic. Ana Lidia Reyes. Business hours only Monday to Friday   

Automotive Mechanical Emergency in Mexico City

ALWAYS make sure your car is in excellent mechanical condition. In case of trouble, Mexico's AAA (or AMA locally) 24-hour emergency number is 5242.0262. ANA’s emergency number is 5488-6600 A reliable, trusted small family business -not a fancy place, operating on the street- is located at Manuel Ma. Contreras 71, Colonia San Rafael, not far from Tel-Mex building. For years they have assisted several diplomatic missions in their car problems. They specialize in automotive electricity. However, if they can assist you in other areas, they will. Arrange an appointment by calling them ahead of time. Ask for Pedro or Javier Castillo. Tels. 5546-9340 or 5535-6501.On the Highway, anywhere in Mexico? Use government updated Maps.

You can VIEW these online. However, if you want to purchase one, these are only available at the Mexican Secretariat of Communications. 

If in Mexico City, call 55) 5723 93 00 EXT. 28905. Their offices are located at  DIRECCIÓN: AV. EUGENIA 197 8° PISO COL. NARVARTE, DELEGACIÓN BENITO JUÁREZ C.P. 03020. Payment in the amount of  $ 163 pesos per copy of a National Road Map can be made in cash or credit card, in person.

The so called mini atlas costs $ 263 pesos (as of April 2008) 

The Road Map Book costs $ 753 pesos.

ALL other SCT Contacts in the Mexican Republic (other than Mexico City), HERE.

Thanks to Lt. Col. Gustavo del Valle y del Peral, one of our avid readers, this information containing most relevant parts about the new Mexico City & State of Mexico Traffic Regulations, to take effect on July 20, 2007 is provided. Most of it is common sense, however some lines are in technical language, a bit confusing. Should you volunteer editing, please be welcome to it by writing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

El Universal, Ciudad de México, Sunday 15/VII/2007

In closing, if the contents of this article were useful, please tell your friends about the Security Corner monthly help column, and help us make the world just a little safer for everyone. By doing this, you are contributing to support the Culture of Crime Prevention.

ABOUT Security Corner: Legal Notice is found in Featured Articles page. This monthly column is the result of intensive research by Mr. Mario González-Román to serve as support to the International Community. We do not pursue commercial or political interests. If a product or service is mentioned is because we believe it is in your own benefit. In some cases, per our request, official information was received from the Mexican Government. Contributions include those coming from non-profit private organizations and individuals volunteering to the usefulness of the objective of each article. In others, information was acquired by navigating in the Internet, by personal interviews or other channels. In each case, credit is given to information sources. While this information is for public use, it would be appreciated that when you reproduce or share its contents, that you include the name of its author and a link to Security Corner. All suggestions are welcome. If we made a mistake, we’ll be happy to correct it. English is not my native language. Readers have been extremely useful in the past: Welcome to edit articles. THIS IS TRULY A JOINT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. Thanks to your input, messages we are be able to determine what topics interest our audience the most. Mr. González-Román is a retired FSN employee from the Embassy of the United States of America, where he worked per prior consent by Mexican Congress as evidenced in Federal Official Diary no. 16, dated September 23, 1981. Please become familiar with his Biography.

Important Notice: Should you report a crime, neither Solutions Abroad nor myself are able to take any legal, otherwise official liability or become personally involved in any case. We only intend to serve as a possible bridge of communication between foreign visitors requiring assistance and the officers charged with responsibility to provide it. We reserve the right to publish only selected materials that meet our criteria of objectivity for the benefit of the community. Should you require professional and private advice, feel free to write to me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

“Copyright © All rights reserved

Additional information: Terms of Use, Privacy Policy

Car Accidents

Automobile Accidents

This article is supplementary to Driving. If you have not read it, we encourage you to do so. In order to better prevent you from having automobile accidents in Mexico, it is important first to take a look at what is available in terms of Global Information and statistics about this issue:

• 4/7/06: Crashes Are Top Cause of Deaths in U.S. for Ages 5-33
• Alcohol-Related Fatalities in 2004, With State-by-State Listing
• USA Legal Help Website registered in 2002 alone, almost 43,000 deaths. A cost of US $ 150 billion per year was estimated in material losses. In 2002 more than 6.3 million car crashes occurred on highways. Sadly, impaired driving and failure to use safety belts were major contributors to fatalities: 17,429 persons were killed in alcohol-related crashes in the same year.
• More detailed information, thanks to the U. S. Department of Transportation. 
• In 2005 a total of 51,000 deaths were estimated by the National Highway Safety Administration in the document Reducing Highway Deaths
• Worldwide, automobile accidents kill an estimated 1.2 million people each year, and injure about forty times this number (WHO, 2004).
• This is the Risk of Driver Injury in Great Britain from 1996 to 2000 published by the United Kingdom’s National Statistics. More pertinent information, about Automobile Accidents, thanks to Wikipedia. 

While in Mexico our statistical information is not as accurate as in the US or other countries, this is what INEGI–National Statistics & Geography Bureau- reported for the year 2004: 8,999 deaths on federal highways, plus 4,603 in state, municipal and other highways. The total being 13,602. All specifics, in a document entitled Housing, Urbanization:  in their Annual Statistics, PAGE 131. Security Corner’s basic message is that every person that utilizes any mode of ground transportation is exposed to a fatal accident, whether in the States, Mexico or any other part of the world. The U. S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that airbags installed in automobiles have saved some 10,000 lives as of January 2004.

Basic Recommendations

Thanks to www.solutionsabroad’sCars Section, these excerpts:

• Always watch out for unlit cars, rocks, potholes, steep shoulders, deep gutters, and animals on the roads. You’ll sometimes encounter livestock and many dogs near urban areas when travelling along the highway (including many dogs that have been run over). You will also encounter speed bumps (topes) on the road and sometimes they are not visible, with either the paint having faded or the sign being absent. Expect possible drug and weapons searches conducted by police or soldiers, especially on roads near the U.S. border, along the Pacific Coast in Oaxaca, Guerrero, Jalisco and Sinaloa. Another hazard to beware of is the number of trucks on the road. They don’t always stick to the slow lane and one should always be careful when trying to overtake them, especially on single-lane roads. Mexico has an extensive network of toll roads (autopistas) and you should use these roads when available.
• When driving in the city, rules are often laxly enforced and followed. It’s not a good idea to have too much faith in road signs and traffic lights. Many motorists disregard traffic lights or “stop” and “give way” signs and decide to stop or go upon their own intuition. A one-way street is not always a one-way street. Most motorists also forsake the need to signal any turn they may want to make so beware of this fact and make sure you always keep a safe distance between your own vehicle and the one in front of you. You should be aware and alert of possible abnormalities at all times – this is doubly valid at night-time and at weekends.
• Should you be on a highway, when an emergency occurs dial 112 SEND if your cellular is part of the TELCEL program. It will connect you to the Federal Highway Patrol, a division within the Federal Preventative Police (PFP). If you are driving on a toll highway (or “cuota”) or any other major highway, you may contact the “Green Angels,” a fleet of trucks with bilingual crews. Their emergency number is 078. Avoid driving on Mexican highways at night.  Many U.S. citizens have died in recent years as a result of driving at excessive speeds, at night, on roads that are in poor condition or are poorly marked 

Your best protection against accidents, whether in a city or highway is –no question- to have proper car insurance, Click Here. I am sure you will appreciate this important information as well: Health & Safety Travel Guide

Mexican Legal System and Automobile Accidents

Also taken from our Cars Section: "If you experience an accident, the Mexican legal system requires all drivers involved in the accident to be detained until responsibility is assessed. In minor accidents, your insurance should cover the damage. Detention and jail can be expected if the guilty driver causes an accident that leads to loss of life, at least until he or she pays any fines or restitutes the victims' family." Every time police stop you in Mexico, especially if as the result of an accident, be prepared to present your driver's licence and Tarjeta de Circulación (car's registration). 

Mexico City

In 2005 a total of 21,706 automobile collisions took place in Mexico City. Some 13,000 persons ended up injured. Most of the accidents were the consequence of reckless driving by young adults, according to official statistics. Should you ever –as the consequence of an accident- require administrative assistance while in Mexico City in terms of issuance of licence plates, payment of fines, simply click on the link. The same if you are required to pay  traffic fines to the Mexico City Government: Infracciones al Reglamento de Tránsito

Preventing Accidents

• Always have your car in the best of mechanical conditions. Read our article on Driving for additional tips. Make sure every time you get gas, have the attendant check brake fluids, oil, transmission and tyre pressure.
• Carry on board a basic FIRST AID kit and learn how to use it. A flashlight and MOST IMPORTANTLY, your Insurance policy updated and the emergency numbers, handy. This includes your trusted physicians’, your kids’ school, home and others you should notify in the event of an emergency.
• In case of an accident AFTER you’ve made sure no one is injured is to call  your insurance adjustor, notify him what happened. Annotate your policy number. In the case of group insurance the registry number that identified your individual coverage.
• Provide all details pertaining to the car insured, such as make, model, color, licence plates.
• Exact location –so he/she finds you- of accident.
• Your cellular phone number.
• If arrested or car towed away to police station, name of Colonia, district attorney’s office where you will make a deposition. Remember that your insurance agent is your best ally.

Basic Preventative Equipment

I re emphasize the above: Just like your car's spare tyre - check pressure once a month, to include all 5 tyres and look under the hood for automotive maintenance. In the trunk, ALWAYS keep in a bag these 10 basic documents, essential tools in any contingency: 1) your updated car insurance and emergency number, 2) a first-aid kit supplied with aspirin or pain killers & anti-swelling (Flanax, Celebrex or similar) medicine available w/o prescription in pharmacies, if you have it always carry a small cooler to place ice if you ever need it. 3) portable extinguisher (have it checked every 6 months), 4) portable flashlight & set of tools, a thick rope 5) drinking water & a cheap camera 6) pen & notebook 7) battery jumper cables, 8) a cellular phone (normally, with you; also, an extra car key in your wallet), 9) an updated agenda –in your cell’s memory- with office, personal contacts who to call in case of an accident and 10) below emergency telephone numbers.  

Magic Numbers

This information should be kept inside your gloves' compartment. It is YOUR responsibility to update these now and then. Numbers may change anytime. It’s a nice exercise, dial each number and make sure it works:

Mexico City - To report an emergency within the D. F. area, dial 060 or 061.

State of Mexico – If within this jurisdiction area, dial 01-800-5901000, then dial digit 1.

EMERGENCY IN MEXICAN FEDERAL HIGHWAYS

Phone numbers ALL tested & functioning as of April 22, 2008 to request help in case of car accidents in Mexican federal highways, report a crime, file a complaint against corrupt police officers (all services only in Spanish):

088  - From any landline 
 
TOLL FREE
 
01800-440-3690
01800-833-6262
Switchboard no. 5484-0490 (select service desired) 
Cell phone (Telcel customers only) Dial *112
 
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Should anyone wish to present notarized documentary evidence involving a complaint, this must be sent or taken to, in Mexico City:
 
Centro Nacional de Atención Ciudadana
CENAC
Secretaría de Seguridad Pública Federal
América 300- 1er.Piso
Colonia Pueblo Los Reyes
Delegación Coyoacán 04330 
 
Official Website: www.ssp.gob.mx
 
If for some reason visitors, automobile drivers have received a ticket for violation to federal traffic regulations need information:
 
Try 5841-4300 Ext. 242, 282 and ask for Lic. Ana Lidia Reyes. Business hours only Monday to Friday   

Medical – Our suggested Medical Advisor is Dr. Jorge Cervantes Castro, MD, a surgeon. He operates out of the ABC Hospital. His numbers are: Office 5272-3410, 5272-2244, 5596-0730. Radio 5208-7866 clave Alfa 2. The best hospital facility in Mexico for expatriates with proper medical insurance is also the ABC Hospital. Their 24-hour switchboard number is 5230-8000. Other options are the Metropolitano Hospital, 5265-1900 or 52651800 and the less-expensive Trinidad Hospital that specializes in orthopedics, tel. no. 5574-7633, 5574-7639. The latter two are located in Colonia Roma.

Mexican State Governments, follow the one that interests you and from their official Website download pertinent information. Courtesy by Wikipedia: English

Procedures to Follow when an Accident Occurs

In in an automobile accident, the first thing you must do is make sure no one is injured. Life is the most precious thing we all have. Make sure you are ok. DO NOT PANIC. Adrenaline pumping, state of shock, excitement, dead victims or injured bodies that follow any accident often do not let common sense take its course. After a collision, debris, cars' positions, dead victims, injured bodies or objects on the pavement may cause additional accidents. Beware of this. Please calm down. If need be, provide necessary first-aid. Fatal cases do not require assistance. Look after the injured, make sure this accident will not cause others. If unable to help, look for someone who can assist on site. Once most urgent life-saving steps have been taken care of, do this: 1) Immediately take descriptive note of cars involved, to include their licence tags, photos, if possible. 2) Reach in your glove compartment for your insurance company's emergency number and report the problem. Make sure you know your exact location. Follow (to the letter) your insurance agents' suggested route of action. 3) Take note of names of drivers, licence numbers. 4) If police arrive on the scene, car numbers, names of officers involved. 5) Take note of time, circumstances. At the first possible chance, call your family or office colleagues and let them know your exact location, in the event you need help. While volunteers may come to your rescue, NOT ALL of these may be well-intentioned! As sad as this may sound, beware of strangers who may offer you a helping hand. Use you judgment, intuition. 
 
In closing, if the contents of this article were useful, please tell your friends about the Security Corner monthly help column, and help us make the world just a little safer for everyone.

ABOUT Security Corner: Legal Notice is found in Featured Articles page. This monthly column is the result of intensive research by Mr. Mario González-Román to serve as support to the International Community. We do not pursue commercial or political interests. If a product or service is mentioned is because we believe it is in your own benefit. In some cases, per our request, official information was received from the Mexican Government. Contributions include those coming from non-profit private organizations and individuals volunteering to the usefulness of the objective of each article. In others, information was acquired by navigating in the Internet, by personal interviews or other channels. In each case, credit is given to information sources. While this information is for public use, it would be appreciated that when you reproduce or share its contents, that you include the name of its author and a link to Security Corner. All suggestions are welcome. If we made a mistake, we’ll be happy to correct it. English is not my native language. Readers have been extremely useful in the past: Welcome to edit articles. THIS IS TRULY A JOINT COLLABORATIVE EFFORT. Thanks to your input, messages we are be able to determine what topics interest our audience the most. Mr. González-Román is a retired FSN employee from the Embassy of the United States of America, where he worked per prior consent by Mexican Congress as evidenced in Federal Official Diary no. 16, dated September 23, 1981. Please become familiar with his Biography.

Important Notice: Should you report a crime, neither Solutions Abroad nor myself are able to take any legal, otherwise official liability or become personally involved in any case. We only intend to serve as a possible bridge of communication between foreign visitors requiring assistance and the officers charged with responsibility to provide it. We reserve the right to publish only selected materials that meet our criteria of objectivity for the benefit of the community. Should you require professional and private advice, feel free to write to me: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Copyright © All rights reserved

Additional information: Terms of Use, Privacy Policy

Bus Travel, Part 2

Bus Travel, Part 2 

We have received e-mails from readers who appreciated my last article. In response to their inquiries, we are now providing you with a second issue on the subject of traveling by bus. A basic question such as where in Mexico City or anywhere in the Mexican Republic can I buy my bus ticket? All you need to know about this by visiting TICKET BUS. Click on Sucursales page.

Is this information available in languages other than Spanish?

English

French

German

Appreciation goes to LONELY PLANET readers who in their Thorn Tree Travel Forum volunteered invaluable information, providing information requested: 

· Approximately 98% of travel in Mexico is done by bus.

· It’s now commonplace to see buses constructed in part or in whole by Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Scania and other high-quality manufacturers. The industry’s contract with Volvo, alone, for new equipment for the years 2002-2005 was worth US $300 million and the industry is rapidly modernizing and improving the equipment.

· After you’ve purchased your ticket, you can cancel it, with no cancellation charge, up until 30 minutes prior to the departure time indicated on your ticket.

· You can change your departure to another time or day up until 15 minutes prior to the departure time indicated on your ticket, at no additional charge. However, the changed ticket cannot be modified or cancelled in the future.

· If you miss your bus (up to, but not more than, one hour after scheduled departure), you may receive a credit of 50% of the price of the ticket that can be applied to the purchase of another ticket to the same destination.

· Carry-on bags are limited similar to the policy airlines follow, and some of the largest carriers employ security agents to screen passengers for weapons before they board the buses.

· You’re permitted to transport baggage not to exceed 25 kilos, after which excess baggage, cargo charges will be applied.

· Children under 3 years of age travel at no additional charge, but they are not entitled to a seat of their own.

· Seniors with a Mexican government-issued INSEN card, children between the ages of 3 and 12 years, and students with SEP recognized credentials are entitled to a 50% discount (for students, this discount applies only to the “official” school holiday periods – and, some carriers have begun limiting the departures time periods for which other discounts will be honored/offered).

· Credentialed teachers traveling during “official” school holiday periods are offered a 25% discount. 

Terminals  

  Centrales Camioneras is a link containing updated information about Mexico City’s Bus Terminals. These – a total of 4- are located strategically depending on your destination. You can access these via the subway system and through other forms of public transportation. Mexico City serves as the nation’s transportation hub, and so much of the nationwide bus service starts, stops, connects in the D.F. Our readers –for their convenience- are again suggested to become familiar with these Security Corner articles: Metro Part I and Metro Addendum 
 
Here’s a listing of the four major bus terminals and the principal destinations served by them: 
 
Central Camionera del Norte To get there: Metro station Autobuses del Norte, on Line 5. Destinations served: Baja California, Colima, Querétaro, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sonora, Chiapas, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Durango, Hidalgo, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Puebla, Oaxaca, Aguascalientes, Veracruz. There are also buses crossing the border into the USA from Mexico City's terminal norte.

Central Camionera del Sur To get there: Metro station Taxqueña, at one end of Line 2. Destinations served: Chiapas, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, Tabasco, Veracruz, Guerrero. 
 
Central Camionera del Oriente (TAPO) To get there: Metro station San Lázaro, on both Lines 1 and B. Destinations served: Campeche, Chiapas, Puebla, Oaxaca, Tlaxcala, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Veracruz, Yucatán. 
 
Central Camionera del Poniente To get there: Metro station Observatorio, at one end of Line. Destinations served: Michoacán, Jalisco, Guerrero, Querétaro, State of Mexico, Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit     

Additional Websites for Bus Passengers:  

Different World – I’ve selected this Site for you.. As a leading online travel agency Different World has been selling hotel accommodation on the Internet since 1997.  Thousands of customers have enjoyed their stay at our specially selected range of hotels.  And as experienced travelers ourselves, we know the country inside out.  We can offer expert advice and answers to all of your questions, and provide help on what to see and do. 
 
Mexico City’s TAPO Bus Terminal – Thanks to Bill Masterson of Lonely Planet’ Thorn Tree Travel information sharing: As the transportation starting-point for trips to Puebla, Tlaxcala, Veracruz , Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatán Peninsula . . . and on to Guatemala and Central America, many of the questions asked on the this branch involve travel to/from the city’s busy eastern bus terminal, Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente – commonly referred to as TAPO. 
 
Secretariat of (SCT) Transportation: Shortest Distance between point A and B, cost of toll booths.

In closing, an excerpt from Bus Travel in Mexico, written and submitted by William Masterson to Lonely Planet’s Thorny Tree Forum on May 20, 2003: “Those of us who have traveled frequently in Mexico have an appreciation for the extensive and, generally, high-quality inter-city and long-haul bus transportation system in the country. If a similar public transportation system anywhere exceeds what we find in Mexico, I’ll be surprised.” 

In closing, if the contents of this article were useful, please tell your friends about the Security Corner monthly help column, and help us make the world just a little safer for everyone.

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