The population growth, real estate developments, and the arrival of new vehicle brands to Yucatán have led to an increasing vehicle park.
The vehicle fleet has grown 68,019 new motorized vehicles circulate on Mérida’s streets and Yucatán’s highways in just one year.
According to the Vehicle Control Register statistics of the SSP, significant growths are observed in six out of eight vehicle classifications.
In the register of private cars, there were 598,705 units in June 2023 and 630,667 in June 2024; trucks, from 149,612 to 157,557; buses, from 831 to 897; motorcycles, from 261,138 to 287,942; trailers, from 23,298 to 24,455; and demonstration cars, from 534 to 619.
The only niche that did not show an increase is the one for vehicles adapted for people with disabilities, which remains at 35 units. There is no category for old cars in the registry.
The State Public Security Secretariat highlights that in the case of private cars, the growth of this vehicle park was 5.34%, representing a difference of 31,962 units in one year, making it the segment that has grown the most so far in the state.
The motorcycle register shows a 10.26% increase from June 2023 to June 2024. In the first year, there were 261,138 motorcycles and in the second, 287,942. That is, 26,804 motorcycles entered circulation.
In 2023, it was the year with the highest registration of new vehicles in Yucatán: a total of 55,829, including 25,508 cars, 6,185 pickup trucks, and 22,740 motorcycles.
The SSP attributed this explosive growth to the introduction of more international automotive brands to the local market, as well as the payment facilities offered by distribution agencies. These two factors explain the increase in the vehicle park in Yucatán, combined with population growth.
Asked if it is necessary to have a vehicle for mobility or work in these times of changes, modernization, traffic crisis, and climate change, the SSP replied that it is an individual decision for each person or family, based on their mobility needs.
They also mentioned that the modernization of public transportation in Yucatán with the Va y Ven system would slow down the growth of motorized vehicles in the state. “The new units of the Va y Ven transportation system offer greater security and comfort to users (they have air conditioning) and cover both existing routes and new ones,” emphasizes the police corporation.
Additionally, they stated that data provided by the Yucatán Transportation Agency shows a significant increase in demand for public passenger services through the modern and environmentally friendly new transportation system. In the public transportation service, there are routes that have been incorporated into the Va y Ven system and have seen an 74% surge in occupancy.
The travel time increased around 37% due to the large part of the transborder increases in buses. Users of both the Va y Ven and conventional bus services have increased in the first six months of 2024. In the first half of 2023, they moved 70 million passengers, and now in the first half of 2024, they used the service to move 76 million users.
There is already an oversaturation of vehicles in Yucatan?
It happens in some areas, avenues, and streets, and at specific hours. There are several factors that contribute to the highway saturation, one being, of course, the greater number of vehicles, both new and those from other states, that come to settle in Yucatan.
According to SSP, there has been a record of 6,394 vehicles coming from other states this year alone. In 2023, it was 13,950, and in 2022, 15,285. Another cause of the growth of the vehicle fleet in the state and in Merida is new residential developments, whose promoters or investors do not always take into account that the road infrastructure is compatible with the number of inhabitants, resulting in slower vehicular flows.
What actions can be taken to mitigate the effects of a growing vehicle fleet in Mérida?
The state government is constantly taking action. It builds new roads, such as the lateral streets on the Periférico, works on road expansions and maintenance, improves traffic infrastructure, redesigns traffic flows according to needs, and the Public Security Secretary implements operations based on specific conditions.
In addition, it constantly urges drivers to drive carefully, respect traffic signals, use alternative routes whenever possible, and show courtesy in conflict situations. All these measures contribute to increased safety and comfortable traffic flow.
