Mexico City: 'Rules' Of The Road

1) The first and foremost do-or-die, make it-or-break-it rule for surviving on four wheels in one of the most densely populated places on earth begins with the old adage: "when in Rome....". I specify four-wheeled vehicles because attempting to navigate two wheels of any type is akin to an early death wish. Law-abiding citizens from such orderly countries as Canada will not last a day unless they quickly adjust to driving like the locals. South Africans, (law-abiding or otherwise) on the other hand, will feel quite at home; I speak from experience. I get a wicked case of the warm and fuzzies on the road here; who needs mama's casserole for comfort when swerving and screeching through the streets can elicit as powerful a sense of sentimentality?

2) Those dotted or solid white/yellow lines in the road do not mean anything. Do not use them as guidance points. Instead just occupy whatever space appears to be between the car to your right and the car to your left. If you do happen to find yourself between a pair of these wastes-of-paint, do not - under any circumstances - assume that the area is yours and is therefore safe from intruders. Whatever car-sized space you find yourself driving in is likely to change quickly, especially when crossing intersections. Once you've crossed over, the location of the set of dotted lines that you were foolishly driving between will have moved to the right or left by a few metres, almost without exception. This is the city that side mirrors were designed for. If, out of the corner of your eye, you see a car to the right or left joining your driving space, do not assume that the driver will wait for you to pass by.