Yes go to the US state department website and look up all the towns that you'll be driving through driving on and around. There's active cartel in those areas fighting each other any given day in any point. You could be walking down the street and a gunfight happens right in front of you.

So, check the local news stations in those areas, especially in Chiapas. They are always having issues there, between the locals and the cartel. I've been there before and have no desire to go back.