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Saturday 11 May 2024 LOCAL
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            Did you know about...

            Basic driving rules on Aruba (part 2)



            (Oranjestad)—In     Yester-                               Priority signs                                            priority. Of course you also
            day’s  issue,  we’ve  provid-                             On the main roads of Aru-                                 have  a  “stop”  sign  that
            ed  some  basic  rules  when                              ba (not the highways), you                                mean the same thing. The
            driving  on  the  four-lane                               may see a yellow, squared                                 stop  sign  is  generally  used
            highways and roundabouts                                  sign  with  a  white  border.                             for  tricky  intersections  with
            on  the  island.  Today,  we                              This  sign  tells  you  that  on                          minimal  view  of  opposite
            want to offer you more tips                               this road, you have priority                              incoming traffic.
            and  tricks  when  it  comes                              and all other traffic should
            to driving on the roads and                               yield  to  you.  This  sign  can                          These are some of the ba-
            highways of Aruba.                                        be seen in Savaneta for ex-                               sic  rules  that  you  would
                                                                      ample. So, if you are driving   is clear. In other words, you   have to know if you decide
            Speed limit in certain areas                              on the main road in Sava-    do  not  have  to  stop  for   to drive on the island. These
            As  mentioned  in  yester-                                neta going to San Nicolas,   them.  This  sign  too  has  a   are  of  course  other  traffic
            day’s  issue,  the  legal  mini-                          you are driving on a single   counter part that indicates   signs, and we recommend
            mum and maximum speed                                     long  road,  and  other  cars   that your priority is over.   you visit aruba-travelguide.
            limit on the island is 50 and                             that  want  to  get  on  this                             com for an extensive over-
            80 km/h respectively. How-                                main road or cross it, either   Another  priority  sign  you   view of all traffic signs used
            ever, there are some areas                                from an intersection or from   may encounter is a triangle   on Aruba.
            where  it  is  mandated  to                               a dirt road, must all wait un-  sign with a red border and
            drive up to a certain speed.                              til traffic on the main road   something that looks like a   Picture  credits:  aruba-trav-
            This is always indicated by a   a circle or triangle—usually                           cross. You’ll see this sign in   elguide.com
            circular traffic sign with red   signal  a  warning,  prohibi-                         an  intersection.  The  gen-
            border and the number 50     tion or preference.                                       eral rule of thumb for cross-
            on it. Signs like these are al-                                                        ing an intersection that do
            ways paired by a similar sign   Besides  the  “50”  sign,  you                         not  contain  traffic  lights,
            with  the  number  crossed   may also encounter a traf-                                roundabouts, sign or arrows
            out further down the road.   fic  sign  that  says  “bebou-                            on  the  road,  is  to  always
            This  means  that  the  man-  wde  kom”.  These  can  be                               yield for traffic on your right.
            date  for  this  speed  is  now   found  in  San  Nicolas  and                         However, if you encounter
            over;  you  may  increase    Oranjestad.     Bebouwde                                  this sign on your side of the
            your  velocity.  Red  borders   kom  sings  are  rectangular                           intersection,  you  have  pri-
            on traffic sign—whether it’s   and  blue,  and  essentially                            ority  over  the  other  cars,
                                         tell  you  that  you  are  in  a                          even the one on your right.
                                         heavily inhabited area. The
                                         maximum  speed  limit  in  a                              However, be careful not to
                                         bebouwde kom is 50 km/h.                                  confuse this sign with a simi-
                                         Just  like  the  previous  pair,                          lar  up-side  down  triangle,
                                         bebouwde  kom  signs  are                                 also found on intersections.
                                         also  paired  with  a  similar                            This sign is a prohibition sign,
                                         sign crossed out.                                         telling  you  that  you  have
                                                                                                   to stop and give other cars



            Blackstone Beach


            (Oranjestad)—Named  af-                                                                is preserved. This is why it is  ily  stray  you  further  in  the
            ter  its  most  recognizable                                                           also  relatively  untouched  wild  ocean.  However,  you
            feature,   the   Blackstone                                                            by  commercial  influenc-   can still enjoy a spectacu-
            Beach  almost  represents                                                              es.  Despite  being  called  lar  view  of  the  stones  and
            the opposite of the typical                                                            a  beach,  do  note  that  it  the  northern  ocean  that
            Aruban  beaches.  For  one,                                                            is  not  advised  to  swim  in  stretches out in front of the
            it  has  black  sand  and  is                                                          the water, as the current is  beach and take a picture
            covered  in  black  smooth                                                             very  strong  and  can  eas-  with your friends or family!
            stones. Secondly, it lies on
            the northern side of the is-
            land,  away  from  the  white
            sandy  beaches  of  in  the
            southern  region.  So,  if  you
            feel up for something differ-
            ent—or if it’s opposite day,   reef movements and wave  mation,  take  the  Andicuri
            visit the Blackstone Beach.   activity of the rural northern  road  leading  up  to  Andi-
                                         part of the island.          curi Beach. There, you can
            Blackstone  Beach  shows                                  park  your  car  and  take  a
            the  more  natural  side  of   Located further east to the  1km  hike  towards  Black-
            Aruba: the stones that cov-  Natural  Bridge  and  Andi-  stone Beach.
            er  the  beaches  and  the   curi Beach, the Blackstone
            shape of it has been craft-  Beach  is  relatively  easy  This  beach  forms  part  of
            ed  for  thousand  years  via   to  access.  Once  you  get  the  Arikok  National  Park
            volcanic  eruptions,  coral   passed  the  Ayo  Rock  For-  and is therefore a site that
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