What I wish I had known before driving a rental in Mexico.

For some reason when I think about driving in Mexico I picture scenes from the 1980 movie Herby Goes Bananas.

In this endearing Disney flick a VW bug with a mind of its own helps break up a crime ring based in Mexico City. If I remember correctly, the movie features traffic jams, car chases down sidewalks and impossibly narrow streets, and ends in a car pile-up involving strategically placed banana peals.

While all in good fun, the overall impression of the film is that Mexico has the worst traffic and roads on the planet. With Herby as my only Mexican driving experience, I was terrified to drive.

Either the roads have improved since 1980, or Herby just isn't a good indication for Mexican driving. I found the roads in the Yucatan Peninsula easy to navigate and in excellent condition.

I would suggest three tips to anyone renting a car in the Yucatan area of Mexico:

1. Stop signs are merely suggestions. Its just a fact of life on rural roads. I came to a full stop once, just out of the airport and was nearly honked off the road. Stop lights, however, are serious business.

2. Leave your ego at the border. On two lane roads Mexican drivers are extremely courteous. If they sense that you would like to pass them, they will pull over into the shoulder. Go ahead, let those eager drivers behind you pass without any road rage.

3. Watch out for speed bumps. Every Mexican town and village is equipped with massive road bumps called Topes. Take heed, and drive slow, or you might loose a tail pipe.

In the Yucatan a car's the way to go. There are so many beaches and Mayan ruins to explore, I couldn't think of any other way to properly visit.