Page 14 - AHATA

A11
LOCAL Thursday 29 February 2024

Did you know about...

Basic driving rules on Aruba (part 1)

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

Most roundabouts have
these 4 exits, so they are rel-
atively simple. When you’re
driving on the four-lane
highway, it is important to
know when to switch to
the left lane to make your
facebook.com/arubatoday/