We love Mexican road signs, even if not many of the messages are heeded.
Here’s a collection of road signs with my very, very official translations.
DON’T DRIVE TIRED, YOUR FAMILY IS COUNTING ON IT
Note: many, if not most, signs are bent on the end. It’s common for driver’s to drive on the shoulder to allow faster cars to pass by. It also happens in no passing zones like on hills or mountain curves. It appears that big trucks have hit all the signs while driving on the shoulder.
DRIVE WITH CAUTION. Yes, that one is bent too.
No donkey carts or tractors allowed, but pedestrians are good.
Tractor drivers must wait until they get to this portion of the road.
A CLEAN ROAD IS SAFER
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE
KEEP RIGHT
PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
SCHOOL CROSSING
USE EXTREME PRECAUTIONS WHEN RAINING
DON’T DRIVE TIRED (But your family isn’t counting on it this time.)
DIM LIGHTS APPROACHING TRAFFIC (Literally: Concede Changing of Lights)
NO LITTERING (Literally: Don’t Throw Trash)
We were cracking up at these “Traveler Services” signs. They don’t tell you how far ahead they are, only that they’re ahead. We drove hours before seeing most of the items listed.
Need a coffee or a flight? You’re in luck.
Keep going and you’ll be able to get gas, see nature, climb nature, wash gas & nature off your hands, then sleep.
If you’re not in the mood for nature, you can also just wash your hands, eat, then sleep.
Alternatively, you can see a museum, visit nature, fix some shit, then go into an authentic house.
Take a tram ride, see an aqueduct (I only know this because we saw it…an hour later), and splash in water.
Gas and nature seemed to keep their place well in the sign hierarchy, but handiwork, pyramids, and scenic overlooks got an occasional shout out.
Finally, although not a road sign, a very clever sign on a liquor store business that delivers to your house, or “Service to your home”. “Vicio” means “vice”, and that portion of “serVICIO” has been emphasized, aka We Deliver Your Vice to Your Doorstep.
-Ryan
eachweekunique.com 