Week ending September 25, 2026
There has been a great deal of discussion this week about highway safety in Mexico, particularly along Highway 15 and 15D through Sonora and Sinaloa.
The reports remain mixed. Several members of On the Road in Mexico have recently travelled this route without experiencing a single problem. Others have reported intimidating stops, demands for money and checkpoints where the people involved displayed no clear official identification.
This does not mean everyone driving Highway 15D will encounter trouble. It does mean travellers should remain aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity.
Sonora investigates suspected illegal checkpoints
The Sonora Attorney General’s Office has announced an investigation and joint federal and state patrols in response to reports of suspected illegal checkpoints along Highway 15.
Authorities have said legitimate checkpoints should be clearly identified, follow official procedures and operate under proper supervision. Travellers who encounter a suspicious checkpoint are being asked to report it to 911.
The investigation is encouraging. We should continue reporting these incidents accurately and keep public attention on the issue. That pressure may help ensure the investigation produces lasting results.
No one should attempt to race through a checkpoint. It may be difficult to determine immediately whether the people operating it are legitimate, and trying to force your way through could place everyone in greater danger.
Recent reports from Highway 15 and 15D
Reports from travellers continue to vary. Some have travelled from Nogales south without trouble, while others describe uncomfortable or intimidating encounters at certain stops.
There are also other routes from the United States that currently have good traveller reports. Recent accounts of the Santa Teresa crossing and the route through Chihuahua and Durango have generally been positive. Conditions can change, however, so travellers should check current information shortly before leaving.
The United States Embassy lifted its temporary restriction on normal activity in Nogales on September 11. The broader travel advisory for Sonora remains at Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
Hurricane Polo and Pacific-coast travel
Hurricane Polo remains offshore in the eastern Pacific. Even without a direct landfall, it can produce heavy rain, high surf, flooding and landslides along parts of Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco.
Anyone travelling along the Pacific coast should check the latest weather and highway conditions before leaving. Mountain roads and low-lying coastal areas can change quickly following heavy rain.
Do not drive across flooded sections of highway. Water depth and damage to the roadway may be impossible to judge from inside a vehicle.
Chihuahua mountain roads
Rockfalls and landslides have recently been reported around Batopilas, Creel, Bocoyna and Gómez Farías. Road crews have been working in affected areas.
Drivers using mountain routes should allow additional time, avoid unnecessary night travel and expect temporary delays where debris is being cleared.
Recent highway disruptions
Temporary closures and delays were reported this week following accidents and maintenance work on several routes, including:
- The Durango–Mazatlán highway near kilometre 163
- The Mexico City–Querétaro highway
- The Mexico City–Cuernavaca highway
- The Barranca Larga–Ventanilla highway in Oaxaca
These were temporary reports and do not necessarily mean the roads remain closed. Check the current situation before travelling.
Useful numbers to keep with you
- 911: Emergencies and reports of suspicious checkpoints
- 074: CAPUFE highway information and assistance
- 078: Ángeles Verdes tourist, mechanical and road assistance
Save these numbers before beginning your trip.
Most people continue to travel Mexico’s highways without serious problems. Good preparation, daylight driving and reliable current information remain the best approach.
Please continue sharing recent, first-hand road reports with On the Road in Mexico. Include the highway, approximate location, date and time, direction of travel and a factual description of what occurred. These details make the reports much more useful to other travellers.
Safe travels,
Bill Bell
On the Road in Mexico
Leave a Reply