Forums > General > General Forum

Adrian

Jun 2, 2004, 5:16 AM

Post #1 of 3 (641 views)

Shortcut

Driving In Tamaulipas

Can't Post | Private Reply

Well, here in Tampico one obtains a driver's license by paying the required fee at City Hall and that's that. There is no fussing with tests or skill or knowledge as in other states or countries.

This leads to some 'creative' manoeuvres on the roads (for the gringo, this means that discretion is definitely the better part of valour) and multi-purpose signalling.

From my own observations of the last 9 months, I present:

Signals Used In Mexico:

Left Flashing
*I am turning Left
*I am about to move away from the curb
*Please pass on my Left as I am slow and the road ahead is clear
*I have forgotten to cancel my Left turn signal
*I am actually turning right at the next junction but I have to move left first as I am a long vehicle

Right flashing
*I am turning right
*I am turning right soon
*Where’s that pinche turning?
*I have forgotten to cancel my right turn signal
*I am turning left but confuse the two

Both flashing
*I am a taxi touting for business
*I am a PAN-ista or PRI-ista showing support for my candidate (election years only)
*I have broken down
*I am about to break down
*I am slowing down and my brake lights don’t work
*I have stopped and may be here for a while

Horns
"Bip-bip" = I am a ruta (or taxi) touting for business
"Bip-bip-bi-bip-bip" = Tu madre!
"Biiiip-bip" = Mamazita!
"Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip" = Move your ass!

Next instalment:"How to Spot the 'Mexican PDM' Variant in a Car-Maker's Model Range"

Adrian

Ed and Fran

Jun 2, 2004, 6:04 AM

Post #2 of 3 (635 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Adrian] Driving In Tamaulipas

Can't Post | Private Reply

Very observant. One you may not have come across (or recognized) yet is the classic:

Left flashing - I'm really turning right but when my cousin's brother-in-law's friend repaired my car after the last choque he miswired the signals.

Neither flashing - see above...

By the way, nice to have a correspondent reporting from Tampico. Could you do me a big favor and post when the new Home Depot opens (seriously)? Looking for a good reason to make a quick trip up there.

Thanks

Ed

[Disclaimer: the above post was a (partial) joke and was in no way supposed to reflect the opinion of management regarding the general quality of auto repir shops down here...forgot to put the [sarcasm] [/sarcasm] icons in the post].

Bubba

Jun 2, 2004, 2:46 PM

Post #3 of 3 (581 views)

Shortcut

Re: [Ed and Fran] Driving In Tamaulipas

Can't Post | Private Reply

Did the moderator inadvertently delete my cogent and pithy response to this e-mail? Perhaps I failed to enviar the thing. While many of my contributions to these fora may be considered to be somewhat forward, that one was almost witty and, certainly, inoffensive. After all, I do not charge for this service.

Bubba