Driving
Baja has its own charms and dangers; it is no more or no less fun or hazardous than driving in any other country. Roads throughout Baja are very different though and it should, therefore, cause little surprise that the experience of driving here will be vastly different from that in either the United States or Canada. Most rural roads have no shoulders. Road signage is scarce at best. 
Roads can appear to be, and for the most part are, on rural sections, very narrow. There is only one highway that travels thru the entire peninsula of Baja, all the way to Cabo San Lucas, and that is HWY 1. It can be dangerous if you are not familiar with it. You have to look out for a number of things if you are driving in Baja for the first time.
The first thing you should do is buy a Mexican auto insurance policy. Because, Mexican authorities will not accept a foreign auto insurance policy if your car meets with an accident. You can buy a policy for just the day or far an entire year. The policy must include a liability clause. The policy must include claims adjusters that will come to the scene of an accident and an attorney. This is important because if an accident occurs while you are driving your car in Mexico, you won’t be allowed to move your vehicle and you may even be detained by the police if anyone is injured until fault can be established. I have heard of people landing in jail even when not at fault in an accident. You should know beforehand that in spite of considerable improvement in road conditions in Mexico during the last few years, there still remain some minor roads, mostly between small towns, which are paved with cobblestone instead of asphalt. In any case, you have to be careful about pot holes and ruts while driving.
Guard rails are not always found even on the most treacherous of roads.
In town, in Ensenada, or anywhere throughout Baja really, the road stop lights are very innovative. They flash 3 times consecutively before changing to yellow. This gives the driver ample warning that the green light is about to change and you can start to slow down in plenty of time.
The speed limits vary of course, but generally on open roads it is 60 KMP (kilometers per hour) which is about 40 MPH. Rarely will you see a traffic cop policing speeding motorists, which is both good and bad.
There have been instances of people being stopped at night and their property being stolen while on an isolated road. Sometimes near speed bumps that Mexico is so famous for. To be on the safe side, drive as much as possible during the day and never pick up strangers. Be careful if you spot any foreign objects in the road; these could be ploys to force you to stop. Driving in daylight has other advantages also: you can read the road signs more clearly, and spot road hazards more easily.
One thing likely to strike you while driving through Mexico is the presence of livestock on roads. See above photo…It poses a big problem for drivers, particularly because there is no fencing around the highways. Livestock are responsible for a large number of road accidents in Mexico. So be careful about them while driving, especially at night! We try to not drive at night- its just good sense. Another aspect you should be careful about is the reluctance of most drivers to use their turn lights when driving their car in Mexico and many cars do not have functioning brake lights either. You should therefore keep your distance, use your turn lights and be aware of those who do not in order to avoid accidents.
It is also essential to know who has the right of way. This is not always easy because, even if you may be in the right, “the other guy” wont give a damn if he happens to be bigger. As a result, you will want to slow down at all intersections and look both ways even when not necessary; it also means you will tend to give in to bigger vehicles that want to occupy the same lane space with you. Prepare yourself well ahead of time. Carry a reliable Mexico map of the road with you so that you know exactly where you are at a particular point of time and the driving distance to your next destination. You can then find a hotel or a motel if have trouble with your engine. Keep as many spare parts as possible with you if you aer in Mexico driving as they might be needed any time during your journey. And last but not the least learn some basic Spanish so that you can communicate with the local people when the need arises.
If you have an emergency while driving, call the Ministry of Tourism’s hotline or (55) 5250-8221, extension 130/297, to obtain help from the “Green Angels,” a fleet of radio dispatched trucks with bilingual crews. Services include protection, medical first aid, mechanical aid for your car, and basic supplies. You will not be charged for services, only for parts, gas, and oil. The Green Angels patrol daily, from dawn until sunset. If you are unable to call them, pull off the road and lift the hood of your car; chances are good they will find you.
Bringing your own car to baja:
Acquire full coverage insurance including bond.
When hiring a service or buying any product, verify conditions first and get a receipt.
Don’t drink and drive.
Always use your seat belt.
Obey all road signs and traffic laws.
Don’t leave valuables in your parked car.
Always carry a valid I.D.
No policeman is authorized to accept money.
Traffic fines must be paid at the police station or by post mail.
On your trip through Baja California Highways, you will find military check points, they are for your own safety.
Never sleep in lonely places or the wayside, look for the nearest town.
Be careful at certain beaches there are strong currents, use life vests and don’t eat or consume alcohol before swimming.
When buying any type of medication be sure there is no restriction for it’s purchase.
Toll road from TJ to Ensenada
This is the beautiful Ensenada Toll Road also known as HWY 1. This runs from Tijuana to Ensenada, then becomes a free road after that, running the length of the Baja. It is single lane at that point and treacherous in many places. No shoulders to speak of.
The tolls are as follows:
