Mexican Topes
February 3, 2002
“Tope” is the name given to those devilish speed bumps that are placed with diabolic frequency onto Mexican roads to slow traffic. All topes are not created equal. Some are so tall that small cars drag bottom when crossing them. These must be crossed very slowly or there is considerable risk of permanent damage to the frame, shocks, tires, and passengers. They are made of almost any material that is handy at the time. Usually, they are made of the same material as the road – rocks if the road is cobblestones or “bitumen” if the road is asphalt. The most durable ones look like rounded steel hubcaps, placed in a line across the road. Restaurants on the beach may even build temporary topes of sand to reduce the dust from passing autos. Automobiles themselves actually build inverted topes in the form of potholes. They are all fairly effective in slowing traffic.
I do not know the history and all reasons that are given for the tope phenomena in Mexico. My guess is that they were invented by a Catholic Priest as a penance for a sinner who stirred up dust with his burro and cart in front of the church. But, who else benefits from the tope? How about tire dealers, shock absorber specialists, alignment specialists, frame straighteners, tire rim salesmen, mufflerologists, doctors, etc. Do they lobby for laws favoring topes rather than policemen? Maybe topes are cheaper than policemen?
Most topes are very effective. They definitely slow traffic. However, there are some exceptions. Some drivers use topes as a place to pass slower traffic. Of course, this is contrary to the purpose of topes, but apparently, the macho image of any self-respecting Mexican driver is compromised if he cannot somehow pass the car impeding his travel. He will pass on the shoulder of the road to the right, on blind curves and at school crossing topes-- where little children and chickens must run for their lives.
Topes are also used to reduce dust from passing cars. They are certainly more effective dust reducers than the signs in the USA that read, “Please drive less than 10 mph to prevent dust.” These signs are routinely ignored by drivers in the American West as they stir up dust at 45 mph.
Sometimes a series of smaller topes are placed onto the highway to slow traffic before the main or largest tope. Such a series of topes can be found in front of our RV Park in Zacatecas. On one of the main highways through this part of the world, these topes slow all traffic that enters the city -- usually at breakneck speed. To slow for the tope, trucks often use their exhaust brakes, which make a nerve-shattering noise – not conducive to sound sleep. After passing the tope, the accelerator is pressed to the floor and the large diesel engines roar to life so loudly that the vibrations are felt on the computer keyboard as I write. Immediately behind the RV Park is a railroad track. For some reason, Mexicans do not place topes on railroad tracks. Trains are bigger than other vehicles, so it is the duty of smaller vehicles to get out of their way. However, they do offer the courtesy of blowing their whistle as they pass the RV park -- to warn us not to crash our motorhome through the wall behind the park into the path of the oncoming train.
Topes are part of the social life of Mexico. At topes you may find children selling candy, sliced fruit or anything else that may make a peso or two. It is also a place where the Bomberos (firemen) collect donations. Thus, there are often small groups of Mexicans at topes whose behavior ranges from total boredom to a party-like atmosphere.
Recognition of topes may be easy or very difficult. Sometimes signs announcing topes are obvious and may even include clearly painted white lines across the road. On larger highways, there is often a sign announcing a tope 500 meters ahead, followed another at 300 meters and another at 150 meters. Other times, they may be totally unmarked or placed so that the shade of some tree camouflages their existence. Some claim that you have not really traveled much in Mexico if you have not hit a big tope at about 60 mph in a 20,000-pound motorhome. We met one fellow at the Spartan Chassis Headquarters in Michigan who had bent the frame of his large motorhome while banging it over a large tope that he had not seen until it was too late. The motorhome was still under warranty, so this guy was trying to get his frame straightened for free.
Shortage of cops may be a good reason for the existence of topes. Roads heavily patrolled by cops, such as in the larger cities, have very few topes. Small towns and populated areas along Mexican highways -- that maybe cannot afford policemen -- tend to have the most topes.
On the balance, are Mexican topes of more benefit than harm? I can’t really answer that question. I find them an annoying nuisance. Especially, when they are placed at an angle across the road so the two tires on the same axle do not hit them at the same time. When the rear tires hit, one before the other, the motorhome pitches sideways so violently that all the canned goods in the upper cabinets bang around. After such an experience, we must be very careful when opening the cabinet doors or a can of beans may drop on our head.
However, I must admit that in some cities I actually prefer topes to red lights. Topes only slow you down, unlike red lights that give the window-washer-boys time to mess up your window so they can be paid for cleaning them.
In a developing country like Mexico, topes are obviously a relatively inexpensive way to slow folks down. If just one chicken can be saved, maybe they are worth the cost. Just hope I can continue to recognize them before they rip the wheels off my motorhome.
No comments:
Post a Comment