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Saturday 11 May 2024 LOCAL
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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