Today, it's practically unthinkable to take a long trip or navigate an unfamiliar city without relying on technology. Tools like Waze and Google Maps have become indispensable for drivers. avoid traffic jams and optimize their arrival times, becoming a basic element of the daily driving routine.
However, this convenience has a very clear legal limit when the car is in motion. In some regions of Mexico, the authorities have already begun to crack down. apply economic sanctions to those who interact with their navigation devices while driving, arguing that this habit is a critical trigger of road accidents.
The focus of the sanctions in the State of Mexico
It is crucial to clarify that the problem lies not in having the map displayed on the dashboard, but in the manual interaction with the screen. According to the State of Mexico Traffic Regulations, specifically Article 90, any manipulation of the positioning system It must be performed exclusively when the vehicle is completely stopped.
There are several actions that traffic officers are monitoring closely and that can result in an immediate fine. These include: enter new addresses, make route changes on the fly, search for points of interest such as gas stations or restaurants, zoom in on the map or simply respond to notifications that the application launches while moving forward.
This surveillance has been intensified, especially in areas where traffic is utter chaos. Municipalities such as Toluca, Ecatepec, Naucalpan, TlalnepantlaNezahualcóyotl and Metepec, among others, are the points where operations to detect distracted drivers are most likely to be carried out.
Costs of infringements and associated risks
If you're caught using your phone to adjust your course, the financial blow can be considerable. By 2026, fines will be calculated based on the Measurement and Update Unit (UMA), which is currently 117,31 pesos. Depending on the severity of the offense and the officer's assessment, the amount may vary. The minimum penalty is 16 UMA (about 1.876,96 pesos), while the maximum reaches 20 UMA, reaching the 2.346,20 Mexican pesos.
Beyond the financial aspect, the Mobility Secretariat warns that these tools pose a real risk by causing four types of distractions. First, the visual distractionFirst, by taking your eyes off the road; second, the physical one, when you let go of the steering wheel; third, the cognitive one, when you focus your mind on the screen; and finally, the reaction time, which is when it takes us longer to brake or react to a pedestrian.
To avoid these mishaps, users are advised to program their entire route before starting the engine or, failing that, use the voice guidance so you don't have to look at the screen. If something unexpected happens and you need to change your destination, the wisest thing to do is find a safe place to park before touching the device.
The regulations aim to reduce road accidents by equating the improper use of GPS with the misuse of mobile phones. Ultimately, the goal is to promote a safer driving where technology is an aid and not a danger, ensuring that drivers always maintain full attention on the road to avoid preventable accidents.