For freight operators , every kilometer traveled is a gamble against the unexpected, with deep potholes that force risky maneuvers, poorly marked curves that do not forgive mistakes, exhausting days that challenge human endurance and units that, with or without supervision, continue on their way in uncertain conditions.
Accidents and risk situations are not isolated events, they are part of everyday life on federal highways. But what is the real solution? More regulation? Greater supervision? Adequate infrastructure? The answer, according to Miguel Guzmán Negrete, certified expert, road safety consultant and general manager of Pisvi Mobility , is not in a single factor, but in the creation of a systemic model of prevention , which puts the driver at the center of all decisions.
Federal highway supervision efforts are still insufficient to reduce the risk of accidents. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a comprehensive strategy that includes safe infrastructure , rigorous inspections and advanced technology in vehicles, explained Guzmán Negrete in an interview with T21.
He commented that there are technologies that can help improve road safety , such as artificial intelligence cameras inside the cabin that alert if the operator is falling asleep, distance sensors with other vehicles and systems that detect speeding or involuntary lane departure.
Lack of supervision on roads!
After the President of Mexico herself, Claudia Sheinbaum, acknowledged the lack of greater supervision on federal highways during the morning conference on February 17, the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) reported that in 2024, 174,862 weight and dimension verifications were carried out on federal motor transport, in addition to 47,805 physical-mechanical inspections of units .
However, these figures are still insufficient . Guzmán Negrete warns that the risk persists and more comprehensive measures must be taken.
“First, we have to create a safe infrastructure and then, yes, other things have to come. There has to be the inspection of the vehicles, which must be in optimal conditions. The company also has to provide the drivers with vehicles in optimal conditions,” explained Guzmán Negrete.
The specialist warned that the lack of road safety in Mexico is a multifactorial problem in which road accidents are mostly due to human error, followed by the state of the infrastructure and mechanical failures in vehicles.
The main risk factors mentioned by the specialist include excessive speed, distractions while driving (such as cell phone use), operator fatigue and poor condition of the vehicles.
Miguel Guzmán Negrete explained that operators often face exhausting work days without adequate rest, which increases the likelihood of accidents.
He stressed that any safety strategy must prioritize operators and guarantee them adequate working conditions.
“The system I am talking about must have the person as the center of all business or government policy. The person is the one who must benefit from all our actions. That is, from everyone: from the company, from the government, from road maintenance, in short, from everything,” Guzmán Negrete pointed out.
For the specialist, another factor that has contributed to the deterioration of road safety is the elimination of the Federal Highway Police , which carried out speed control operations, such as the “carousel”, where patrols circulated at a moderate speed to set the pace of traffic and avoid speeding.
The use of technology in road transport is also a key point. Guzmán Negrete points out that today there are advanced systems that can help reduce risks.
“There is no excuse to say ‘my vehicle is 20 years old’ because certain technological devices can be installed without any problem ,” he commented.
However, he stressed that technology must be part of a broader strategy that includes road audits, monitoring operations and a focus on operator safety.
“The driver is the one who is affected today due to the inaction of everyone, but he is the one who should benefit from the action of everyone ,” he concluded.
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