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local Monday 17 noveMber 2025

Basic driving rules on Aruba: Roundabouts

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

Roundabouts It’s always scary to drive in
Speaking of roundabouts, it new places where the traf-
is important to know where fic may look and work dif-
you have to enter and ferently, but once you get
drive on the roundabout to it right once, you’ll get the
make your exit. A good rule hang of it in no time. Ad-
of thumb is to count the ex- ditionally, all roundabouts
its starting from your right and roads on Aruba have
side. So, exit 1 would be signs and arrows painted
on your right; exit 2 would on the road to help guide
be straight ahead; exit 3 you. So take your time,
would be on your far left keep your eyes open and
and exit 4 would lead to don’t forget to wear a seat
the road paralleled to the belt!q