We followed Mexican Interstate 15 all the way south from the Arizona border. Our destination is a small town located about 20 miles off I-15 on a smaller intersecting highway. Generally speaking, the interstate is thoroughly modern and in good condition; however, at the time of our travels, hundreds of miles of it were under construction. In most cases the old road is being torn out and a completely new road being built. Delays were minimized by working on one side of the road at a time and having two-way traffic on the other side. We noticed that the highways are remarkably free of litter.

Once you leave the interstate, the condition of the local roads is much more variable, but nearly always in fairly poor condition. There are frequent potholes; lanes damaged by heavy truck use; animals (individual and herds), pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists on the side.

Then there are the speed bumps – “velocity reducers”, as the signs call them. These are used with great frequency, and actually a pretty good tool for controlling motorists’ speed. For example, when approaching a town, an intersection, a dangerous curve, etc., one or more speed bumps are used to slow traffic for safety purposes. On the other hand, though, they are often poorly marked, e.g., there’s not always a warning sign and, although they were painted when they were installed, that paint has worn off and now the bump blends in with the rest of the road. Also, the speed bumps tend to be very tall, so you really have to slow down – especially when you’re driving a minivan loaded with a lifetime of belongings and with a tow hitch on the back!