By Ximena Céspedes*
Last December 2nd, I celebrated 25 years of arriving in Mexico. I remember my first days coming from Colombia: for me it was such a peaceful place that I even found the news broadcast boring. The most that happened was a dog being run over or the typical scandalous accidents of drunken motorists.
I still think the same as that day: that Mexico is a paradise. That the “American dream” is fulfilled for anyone who wants to live and work here. There is no artist, producer, musician, writer or businessman who does not appear in a showcase in Mexico and who does not do well in the rest of the world; Unfortunately, I have been seeing a deterioration in recent years.
This deterioration is manifested in security, infrastructure, institutions, health, but above all in people’s standards of behavior. This can be seen in something as simple as the fact that the red light is less and less respected by both motorists and pedestrians.
Civility, understood as the attitude of thinking about the community and acting so that we can all live together better, finds its maximum expression in a basic rule: do not do to anyone what you do not want done to yourself.
Civility is essential to guarantee a peaceful, orderly and cohesive coexistence; strengthens community ties, reduces violence and builds institutional trust. Without it, disorder, insecurity, social fragmentation and deterioration of the common good prevail.
Therefore, the lack of obedience at the red light is not the cause, but rather an unequivocal symptom of a loss of respect and tolerance towards others, towards the laws and even towards life itself. Running a red light is extremely reckless behavior that generates accidents, road congestion, increased aggression among motorists and chaos.
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I have learned that to change a culture it is necessary to influence behaviors. Therefore, I propose a series of measures to get back on track, starting with respecting the red light through:
- Road education from schools, in a practical way, not just theoretical.
- Additional requirements for granting driving licenses—for any vehicle—that include not only driving hours, but also mandatory theoretical training and periodic endorsements.
- Make the consequences visible and measurable, through signs that clearly explain the fine and campaigns that show the real risks through statistics and specific cases.
- Measures to reduce impatience, using technology and artificial intelligence to achieve more efficient synchronization, traffic analysis by zone, smart traffic lights and countdowns that indicate how much is left.
- Increase the feeling of control and surveillance with photo cameras in critical points, random police checks at unpredictable times, and effective enforcement of sanctions in the event of violations.
- Safer infrastructure, with elevated pedestrian crossings adapted for people of any age or disability, better night lighting, pedestrian buttons, timely paving and safety islands at key points.
- Constant education and campaigns.
To restore peaceful coexistence, we need to return to the basics: a change in local culture. We need to return to example, shared responsibility and consistent application of the rules. We have to resume civic education at all levels—family, schools, companies and institutions—with commitment, but also with a budget.
Although I would love to say that 2026 should be the year of peace (with 2025 being the year of hope), I understand that it is a very ambitious dream. Therefore, I would settle for it to be the year of the red light. #OpiniónCoparmex
About the author:
*Ximena Céspedes is National Vice President of Democratic Development and Lobbying of COPARMEX Nacional.
The opinions expressed are solely the responsibility of their authors and are completely independent of the position and editorial line of Forbes Mexico.
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