What can drivers do when protestors block the highway?
When protestors create traffic chaos, what’s a driver to do?
From Tijuana to Tulum, blockades are a longstanding protest tactic in Mexico.
One such protest snarled traffic Friday on one of the Yucatán’s most vital roads, the Mérida-Cancún federal highway. Vehicles backed up for miles in both directions on one of the busiest routes on the Yucatán Peninsula. Protestors were defending a murder suspect they say was unjustly accused.
The day before, aggrieved workers and shop tenants from the Tulum archaeological zone entrance staged a similar protest. They complained about recent road revisions that divert drivers away from their businesses. Drivers were prevented from entering or leaving Jaguar Park.
In November, a border protest caused a major backup at the busiest cargo bridge in the U.S. In October, protestors blocked access to Tijuana’s international airport for 11 hours, affecting thousands of travelers who missed or were late for their flights.
In the south of Mérida, Calle 62 at 73 has been blocked since October by the Alianza de Camioneros de Yucatan drivers demanding fiscal transparency. Previously, neighbors in García Ginerés employed the same strategy to get the electric company’s attention after a prolonged outage. The examples go on.
How drivers cope with blockades
Some travelers are harder hit than others by determined protestors. A husband and wife driving through Chiapas documented their harrowing experience on their blog. A blockade between Palenque and San Cristobal de Las Casas forced them to find a hotel, but the next morning, the road was still blocked. Luckily they were driving a rugged Ford F-150, which “gave us more confidence that we could make it through the detour.”
“We drove through super small Indigenous villages at around eight miles an hour. We came across mountainsides with no guard rails, collapsed portions of dirt roads, and evidence of rock slides. It was certainly a stressful and cautious drive. It took three hours to reach a paved road, and about two hours after that, we finally made it to our destination,” said Rebekah Mullinix.
Protests like these highlight a growing issue for drivers in regions prone to road blockades. When faced with such situations, there is no magic formula to get where you’re headed on schedule. But consider the following steps:
- Gather Information: Check with locals or consult social media and community pages to understand the reason for the blockade and its potential duration.
- Plan Alternate Routes: Seek advice from locals, including taxi drivers, who are often familiar with the best detours.
- Stay Safe: Avoid engaging with protesters and try to find a safe place to wait. If the blockade persists into the evening, consider checking into a nearby hotel to avoid navigating unfamiliar roads at night.
- Be Prepared: Keep essentials like water, snacks, and fuel in your vehicle to manage unexpected delays.
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