Mobility is a fundamental part of modern life, positively impacting people’s quality of life, facilitating economic growth, and regional integration, as well as being a cornerstone for rural and urban development. However, mobility can generate negative effects due to the interaction of the various elements that make up the transportation system. Therefore, it is essential to have clear and effective rules to regulate and ensure the safety of all users of public roads.
In this article, we will explore the origin and purpose of traffic laws and regulations, the risk factors they aim to mitigate, and the most important traffic rules included in Mexico’s General Law of Mobility and Road Safety (LGMSV).
What Are Traffic Laws and Regulations?
Traffic laws and regulations are a set of rules designed to govern vehicular and pedestrian traffic on public roads with two main objectives: to prevent traffic accidents and to make vehicle and pedestrian traffic more efficient.
The origin of these precepts dates back to the early 20th century when the increase in vehicular traffic in cities made it necessary to establish rules to maintain order and safety. One of the pioneers in this field was William Phelps Eno, who in 1900 published an article titled “Reforming Our Street Traffic Urgently Needed,” laying the groundwork for traffic regulation.
What Are the Most Important Traffic Measures?
The World Health Organization (WHO) proposes several specific regulatory measures to reduce risk factors to prevent fatalities and injuries from traffic accidents. The main measures promoted by the WHO are based on evidence of their effectiveness and are aimed at: controlling vehicle speed, preventing driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs, increasing the use of seat belts and child restraint systems, and protecting vulnerable users.
What Rules Does the LGMSV Establish Regarding the Measures Proposed by the WHO to Prevent Fatalities and Serious Injuries from Traffic Accidents?
In Mexico, the LGMSV, approved in 2022, marks a milestone in efforts to reduce deaths and injuries caused by traffic accidents. This law establishes a “Safe Systems” approach aligned with the Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030.
In alignment with the measures proposed by the WHO, the LGMSV establishes the incorporation of the following measures in state and municipal laws and regulations:
Measures to Control Speed
- The law allows authorities to regulate and manage vehicle traffic by implementing modalities to vehicular flow on specific days, times, and roads.
- It includes the design of roads that force drivers to reduce speed, such as narrower streets, speed bumps, etc., by promoting the planning and design of safe road infrastructure.
- It sets maximum speed limits for various vehicles and zones, for example: 20 km/h in hospital and school zones on secondary and tertiary roads and up to 30 km/h in school zones on primary roads and highways.
- It emphasizes the need to adjust speed based on traffic, road, vehicle, and weather conditions.
Measures to Prevent Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs
- The law incorporates the WHO’s recommendation to establish and enforce laws that prohibit driving under the influence of alcohol, psychotropic substances, narcotics, including medications.
- It sets blood alcohol concentration limits for private drivers, with a limit of 0.25 mg/L in exhaled air or 0.05 g/dL in blood, with the following considerations:
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- For motorcyclists, it is prohibited to drive with a blood alcohol concentration higher than 0.1 mg/L in exhaled air or 0.02 g/dL in blood.
- For vehicles intended for passenger and cargo transport, it is prohibited to drive with any alcohol concentration in exhaled air or blood.
- It mandates entities and municipalities to implement random alcohol and drug tests.
- It promotes awareness campaigns.
Measures to Increase the Use of Helmets, Seat Belts, and Restraint Systems
- The law mandates the use of certified helmets for both motorcyclists and passengers. In Mexico City, the regulation restricts the driving of motorcycles by children under 12 and prohibits more than two people from riding on a motorcycle.
- It requires the use of seat belts for all passengers in motor vehicles and that any person under twelve years old or whose physical constitution requires it, travels in the rear seats with a child restraint system or safety seat.
Measures to Prevent Distracted Driving
- The law prohibits talking on a cell phone or any other electronic or communication device, as well as reading and/or sending text messages via any type of electronic device, unless done using hands-free technology.
Measures to Protect Vulnerable Users
- The law establishes a mobility hierarchy, prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists, and vulnerable users in the use and disposition of roads.
- It includes the development of road infrastructure that separates pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists from vehicular traffic, as recommended by the WHO.
Measures to Improve Vehicle Safety
- It promotes vehicle safety, focusing on the protective performance that new vehicles provide to occupants and vulnerable users in case of an accident.
- An important area of opportunity for the LGMSV is the mandatory establishment of periodic technical inspections for used vehicles. This absence could be addressed in state regulations, aligning with WHO recommendations.
Compliance with traffic rules is not optional; it is a shared responsibility. Every driver, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist has to respect signals, speed limits, priority rules, and other established provisions. Only through mutual responsibility and commitment from all users can we significantly reduce deaths and injuries on streets and highways.
Road safety is everyone’s responsibility.
