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You do NOT want to drive in Mexico unless you like jails.

Funny, I've driven in Mexico many times and have never had that problem. In fact, the most dangerous things on the Mexican highways are the other Mexican drivers and the conditions of the roads themselves. DUI is common and an acceptable practice there, pavement is only sporadically maintained, many roads are unstriped, and streetlights are only found on main thoroughfares inside the larger cities.

There's a few basic safety tips for driving in Mexico that Americans need to be aware of. Follow them and you'll be fine:
1) Don't take your Jaguar to Nuevo Laredo or Tijuana. People there aren't going to care if you're American, Mexican, or Chinese, they're just going to see several years worth of income in stripping it, and you WILL get jacked. If you're going to Mexico, take an older car or, better yet, stop by a car rental place and pick up a Mexican rental (with the bonus Mexican plates).

2) Get through the border areas quickly, but don't speed. The border is controlled by drug gangs and is NOT a place that ANYONE (American or Mexican) really wants to spend a lot of time. The danger fades an hour or two south of the border, so skip Tijuana and head south. On the other hand, ticket revenue is a major resource for the border towns, and Mexican speed limits tend to be lower in towns. If you're speeding, you can expect to be pulled over. The officer will either demand that you pay him the fine on the spot (where a substantial portion will end up in his pocket), or you'll be taken to jail until you can pay it. The trick to avoiding this is...DON'T SPEED.

3) Don't drive after dark. No, there are no gangs of roving banditos waiting to ambush you, but the darkened and unstriped Mexican highways tend to have sharp dropoffs and run through unfenced rangeland. Nothing will screw your vacation faster than a sheep through the windshield.

4) Don't go exploring the back roads unless you have a knowledgeable local with you. They tend to be even more poorly maintained than the highway, and many run into villages that don't like outsiders or which grow various drugs. A lily white American tourist showing up in one of these towns is NOT going to be treated well

5) Keep $40 in your wallet, and the rest of your money in your sock. If you do run into problems, pull out the $40, tell the cop it's all you have, and 95% of the time they'll take your money and let you walk.

Is Mexico the safest place in the world to visit? Nope, but it's safe enough with a little common sense.