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Thursday 19 June 2025 locAl
A10

Basic driving rules on Aruba: Roundabouts

(Oranjestad)—Have you extra; one on the right and
ever felt confused when the other on the left side of
you’re driving on the high- the roundabout. The rules
ways or backstreets of don’t change at all, you
Aruba? Then we present a just have to keep an extra
simple guide to some of the eye open.
basic rules of Aruban traf-
fic, along with some tips for Airport roundabout
things to look out for. Ah, yes. The infamous air-
port roundabout. The fa-
Speed limit vorite roundabout amongst
Legally, the speed limit on local, because of its easy
the four-lane highways is (hard) lanes that never
80 km/h. This speed limit (always) cause confusion
also counts for the main among drivers. Sarcasm
roads that are connected aside, this roundabout can
to the highways. The mini- be tricky to enter, especial-
mum speed is 50 km/h. ly when you’re driving from
Most people drive around the direction of the airport
60 km/h on the main roads heading. When you’re driv-
and about 70 km/h on the ing away from the airport
highways. There are also ar- reaching the roundabout,
eas that indicate a speed you’ll be faced with three
limit on a sign; these are lanes. The far right lane is
usually around populated know when to switch to However, other round- to take the exit 1 out head-
and school areas. Roundabouts the left lane to make your abouts can be quite tricky ing east (right lane of high-
Speaking of roundabouts, it exit: if your exit is on your far to navigate… way). The middle exit is
The four-lane highways is important to know where left (exit 3), then you need used for exit 1 (left lane of
contain the left-lane, also you have to enter and to switch to the left lane Watty Vos Boulevard (the highway), 2 and 3. The far
known as the “fast” lane drive on the roundabout to on the high way before “paperclip” roundabout) left exit is used to only exit
for each direction. Here is make your exit. A good rule nearing the roundabout Probably the biggest round- on exit 3 (left lane of high-
where vehicles can drive of thumb is to count the ex- so you can take the path about on the island, the way) and 4.
up to the maximum speed. its starting from your right that leads you directly to “paperclip” roundabout
However, legally it is not side. So, exit 1 would be your exit. If your exit is on on the Watty Vos Boule- “Las Americas” roundabout
permitted to drive for long on your right; exit 2 would your right or if you’re going vard is one of the trickier The Las Americas round-
periods of time on the left be straight ahead; exit 3 straight ahead, you can roundabouts that could— about is located near the
lane. This lane is primar- would be on your far left keep driving in the right and has—caused con- Talk of the Town hotel, west
ily designed for drivers and exit 4 would lead to lane of the highway. fused among both tourists from the airport round-
to switch lanes before a the road paralleled to the and locals. However, once about. This roundabout
roundabout, for example, one you’re on, heading in It’s also important to know you take a good look at it, may look like a regular
if your exit on the round- the other direction. that vehicles about to en- it’s fairly simple. The basis roundabout—and for the
about is on your far left. ter the roundabout must is just the same as a regu- most part, it is. However,
The general lane to drive Most roundabouts have yield to those already on it. lar roundabout (left exit? when you are driving from
in—both at maximum and these 4 exits, so they are rel- A good rule of thumb is to left lane! etc.), but instead the east going in the direc-
minimum speed—is on the atively simple. When you’re look out if someone is com- of having four different ex- tion of town, please take
right lane. driving on the four-lane ing from your left side. its like on a regular round- note that there are two ex-
highway, it is important to about, now you have two its on your right.

When you’re driving to-
wards this roundabout,
you’ll notice that the road
becomes wider, splitting
into two lanes. The right
lane is used to take the
first and second exit on the
right. If you want to exit
straight ahead, you must
drive on the left lane!

It’s always scary to drive in
new places where the traf-
fic may look and work dif-
ferently, but once you get
it right once, you’ll get the
hang of it in no time. Ad-
ditionally, all roundabouts
and roads on Aruba have
signs and arrows painted
on the road to help guide
you. So take your time,
keep your eyes open and
don’t forget to wear a seat
belt! q