Driving Differences: India vs Mexico for Safe Travels
Explore the unique driving landscapes of India and Mexico, where essential distinctions in road rules and regulations can significantly impact your journey. From varying speed limits to lane usages and traffic signals, understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience behind the wheel in each country.
Lanes
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, but only when safe. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some metropolitan areas | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply. | Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes, in some areas | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Mainly in urban areas for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
Driving Side
india:
Left
mexico:
Right
Overtaking: On Left
india:
No
mexico:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
india:
Yes, but only when safe.
mexico:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
india:
Use leftmost lane.
mexico:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some metropolitan areas
mexico:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
india:
Reserved for buses; usage time restrictions may apply.
mexico:
Reserved for buses; sometimes allows other forms of public transportation.
Bus Lanes: Markings
india:
Labeled 'BUS'; often marked with road signs.
mexico:
Labeled 'BUS' or specific to the city regulations.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
india:
Yes, in some areas
mexico:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
india:
Exclusive for bicycles.
mexico:
Mainly in urban areas for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
india:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
mexico:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
india:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-70 km/h | 70-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-120 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes, in major cities and highways | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, commonly used | Yes, particularly in high traffic areas |
Urban Areas: Standard
india:
40-50 km/h
mexico:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
60-80 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
india:
60-80 km/h
mexico:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-70 km/h
mexico:
70-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
india:
80-120 km/h
mexico:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
india:
60-80 km/h
mexico:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
india:
N/A
mexico:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
india:
Yes, in major cities and highways
mexico:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
india:
Yes, commonly used
mexico:
Yes, particularly in high traffic areas
Signals
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in India | Not used in Mexico |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Hand Signals: Common Usage | More common due to varied vehicle conditions | Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English and local languages; symbols are standard | Spanish; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Triangular signs with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
india:
Not used in India
mexico:
Not used in Mexico
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
india:
Unnecessary and excessive use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
mexico:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Hand Signals: Common Usage
india:
More common due to varied vehicle conditions
mexico:
Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected
Traffic Signs: Language
india:
English and local languages; symbols are standard
mexico:
Spanish; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
india:
Triangular with red border
mexico:
Triangular signs with red border
Turns
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| Left Turn: General | Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians | Permitted unless prohibited by signs |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed in designated areas; check for signs | Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited |
Right Turn On Red
india:
Prohibited unless otherwise stated by a sign
mexico:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Left Turn: General
india:
Permitted; always yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians
mexico:
Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed
india:
Allowed in designated areas; check for signs
mexico:
Generally permitted unless prohibited by signs, or where visibility is limited
Documentation
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate | Varies by state; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | PUC sticker displayed on windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
india:
International Driving Permit recommended
mexico:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
india:
Mandatory; proof required with Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
mexico:
Varies by state; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
india:
PUC sticker displayed on windshield
mexico:
Displayed on the windshield
Road Etiquette
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Limited | Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions | Only in emergency situations |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to other countries | Moderate use compared to some countries |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Limited
india:
Discouraged, but common due to heavy traffic and mixed vehicle conditions
mexico:
Only in emergency situations
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
india:
Frequent use compared to other countries
mexico:
Moderate use compared to some countries
Pedestrians Priority
india:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked and zebra crossings
mexico:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
india:
Move to the side and allow emergency vehicles to pass
mexico:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used | Common in urban areas, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; fines can be substantial | Can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
india:
0.03%
mexico:
0.08%
Limits: Professional Drivers
india:
0.00%
mexico:
0.04%
Enforcement: Random Checks
india:
Common in cities; checkpoints are regularly used
mexico:
Common in urban areas, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
india:
Varies by state; fines can be substantial
mexico:
Can be substantial
Test Refusal
india:
Can result in license suspension and fines
mexico:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning upon entry | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Entering
india:
Signal if turning upon entry
mexico:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Signaling: Exiting
india:
Signal left when preparing to exit
mexico:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply | 066 or 911 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations | Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes' |
Contact: General Emergency
india:
112
mexico:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
india:
Varies by state; local helpline numbers may apply
mexico:
066 or 911
Contact: Roadside Assistance
india:
Commonly through insurance providers or automotive associations
mexico:
Check with your insurance provider or 'Angeles Verdes'
Penalties And Fines
| India | Mexico | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; $40 to $200, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | ₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states | Varies, up to $50, points in some states |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | ₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states | Varies; can lead to significant fines |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | ₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license | Varies; can be substantial, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense | Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay | Varies; system improvements for online payments |
Common Fines: Speeding
india:
Varies; ₹1,000 to ₹2,000, points on license
mexico:
Varies; $40 to $200, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
india:
₹500 to ₹1,000, points in some states
mexico:
Varies, up to $50, points in some states
Common Fines: Phone Use
india:
₹1,000 to ₹5,000, points in some states
mexico:
Varies; can lead to significant fines
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
india:
₹500 to ₹2,000, points on license
mexico:
Varies; can be substantial, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
india:
Common; fines often paid at the time of the offense
mexico:
Common; may be paid to officers directly, although formal procedure is preferred
Payment: Deadline
india:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay
mexico:
Varies; system improvements for online payments