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Tuesday 24 december 2024 locAl
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Basic driving rules on Aruba (part 1)

(always) cause confusion
among drivers. Sarcasm
aside, this roundabout can
be tricky to enter, especially
when you’re driving from
the direction of the airport
heading. When you’re driv-
ing away from the airport
reaching the roundabout,
you’ll be faced with three
lanes. The far right lane is to
take the exit 1 out heading
east (right lane of highway).
The middle exit is used for
exit 1 (left lane of highway),
2 and 3. The far left exit is
used to only exit on exit 3
(left lane of highway) and 4.

“Las Americas” round-
(Oranjestad)—Have you usually around populated is important to know where look out if someone is com- about
ever felt confused when and school areas. you have to enter and drive ing from your left side. The Las Americas round-
you’re driving on the high- on the roundabout to make about is located near the
ways or backstreets of The four-lane highways your exit. A good rule of However, other round- Talk of the Town hotel, west
Aruba? Then we present a contain the left-lane, also thumb is to count the exits abouts can be quite tricky from the airport round-
simple guide to some of the known as the “fast” lane starting from your right side. to navigate… about. This roundabout
basic rules of Aruban traf- for each direction. Here is So, exit 1 would be on your may look like a regular
fic, along with some tips for where vehicles can drive right; exit 2 would be straight Watty Vos Boulevard (the roundabout—and for the
things to look out for. up to the maximum speed. ahead; exit 3 would be on “paperclip” roundabout) most part, it is. However,
However, legally it is not your far left and exit 4 would Probably the biggest round- when you are driving from
Speed limit permitted to drive for long lead to the road paralleled about on the island, the the east going in the direc-
Legally, the speed limit on periods of time on the left to the one you’re on, head- “paperclip” roundabout tion of town, please take
the four-lane highways is lane. This lane is primarily de- ing in the other direction. on the Watty Vos Boule- note that there are two exits
80 km/h. This speed limit signed for drivers to switch vard is one of the trickier on your right.
also counts for the main lanes before a roundabout, Most roundabouts have roundabouts that could—
roads that are connected for example, if your exit on these 4 exits, so they are rel- and has—caused con- When you’re driving to-
to the highways. The mini- the roundabout is on your atively simple. When you’re fused among both tourists wards this roundabout,
mum speed is 50 km/h. far left. The general lane to driving on the four-lane and locals. However, once you’ll notice that the road
Most people drive around drive in—both at maximum highway, it is important to you take a good look at it, becomes wider, splitting
60 km/h on the main roads and minimum speed—is on know when to switch to the it’s fairly simple. The basis into two lanes. The right lane
and about 70 km/h on the the right lane. left lane to make your exit: is just the same as a regu- is used to take the first and
highways. There are also ar- if your exit is on your far left lar roundabout (left exit? second exit on the right. If
eas that indicate a speed Roundabouts (exit 3), then you need to left lane! etc.), but instead you want to exit straight
limit on a sign; these are Speaking of roundabouts, it switch to the left lane on the of having four different ex- ahead, you must drive on
high way before nearing its like on a regular round- the left lane!
the roundabout so you can about, now you have two
take the path that leads extra; one on the right and It’s always scary to drive in
you directly to your exit. the other on the left side of new places where the traf-
If your exit is on your right the roundabout. The rules fic may look and work dif-
or if you’re going straight don’t change at all, you ferently, but once you get
ahead, you can keep driv- just have to keep an extra it right once, you’ll get the
ing in the right lane of the eye open. hang of it in no time. Ad-
highway. ditionally, all roundabouts
Airport roundabout and roads on Aruba have
It’s also important to know Ah, yes. The infamous air- signs and arrows painted on
that vehicles about to en- port roundabout. The fa- the road to help guide you.
ter the roundabout must vorite roundabout amongst So take your time, keep your
yield to those already on it. local, because of its easy eyes open and don’t forget
A good rule of thumb is to (hard) lanes that never to wear a seat belt! q