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local Tuesday 27 augusT 2024

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Basic driving rules on Aruba (part 1)

(Oranjestad)—Have you
ever felt confused when
you’re driving on the high-
ways or backstreets of
Aruba? Then we present a
simple guide to some of the
basic rules of Aruban traf-
fic, along with some tips for
things to look out for.

Speed limit
Legally, the speed limit on
the four-lane highways is
80 km/h. This speed limit
also counts for the main
roads that are connected
to the highways. The mini-
mum speed is 50 km/h.
Most people drive around
60 km/h on the main roads
and about 70 km/h on the
highways. There are also ar-
eas that indicate a speed
limit on a sign; these are
usually around populated
and school areas.

The four-lane highways
contain the left-lane, also you have to enter and left (exit 3), then you need to navigate… you’ll be faced with three
known as the “fast” lane drive on the roundabout to to switch to the left lane lanes. The far right lane is
for each direction. Here is make your exit. A good rule on the high way before Watty Vos Boulevard (the to take the exit 1 out head-
where vehicles can drive of thumb is to count the ex- nearing the roundabout “paperclip” roundabout) ing east (right lane of high-
up to the maximum speed. its starting from your right so you can take the path Probably the biggest round- way). The middle exit is
However, legally it is not side. So, exit 1 would be that leads you directly to about on the island, the used for exit 1 (left lane of
permitted to drive for long on your right; exit 2 would your exit. If your exit is on “paperclip” roundabout highway), 2 and 3. The far
periods of time on the left be straight ahead; exit 3 your right or if you’re going on the Watty Vos Boule- left exit is used to only exit
lane. This lane is primar- would be on your far left straight ahead, you can vard is one of the trickier on exit 3 (left lane of high-
ily designed for drivers and exit 4 would lead to keep driving in the right roundabouts that could— way) and 4.
to switch lanes before a the road paralleled to the lane of the highway. and has—caused con-
roundabout, for example, one you’re on, heading in fused among both tourists “Las Americas” roundabout
if your exit on the round- the other direction. It’s also important to know and locals. However, once The Las Americas round-
about is on your far left. that vehicles about to en- you take a good look at it, about is located near the
The general lane to drive Most roundabouts have ter the roundabout must it’s fairly simple. The basis Talk of the Town hotel, west
in—both at maximum and these 4 exits, so they are rel- yield to those already on it. is just the same as a regu- from the airport round-
minimum speed—is on the atively simple. When you’re A good rule of thumb is to lar roundabout (left exit? about. This roundabout
right lane. driving on the four-lane look out if someone is com- left lane! etc.), but instead may look like a regular
highway, it is important to ing from your left side. of having four different ex- roundabout—and for the
Roundabouts know when to switch to its like on a regular round- most part, it is. However,
Speaking of roundabouts, it the left lane to make your However, other round- about, now you have two when you are driving from
is important to know where exit: if your exit is on your far abouts can be quite tricky extra; one on the right and the east going in the direc-
the other on the left side of tion of town, please take
the roundabout. The rules note that there are two ex-
don’t change at all, you its on your right.
just have to keep an extra
eye open. When you’re driving to-
wards this roundabout,
Airport roundabout you’ll notice that the road
Ah, yes. The infamous air- becomes wider, splitting
port roundabout. The fa- into two lanes. The right
vorite roundabout amongst lane is used to take the
local, because of its easy first and second exit on
(hard) lanes that never the right. If you want to exit
(always) cause confusion straight ahead, you must
among drivers. Sarcasm drive on the left lane!
aside, this roundabout can
be tricky to enter, especial- It’s always scary to drive in
ly when you’re driving from new places where the traf-
the direction of the airport fic may look and work dif-
heading. When you’re driv- ferently, but once you get
ing away from the airport it right once, you’ll get the
reaching the roundabout, hang of it in no time.q