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LOCAL Thursday 18 January 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 the left lane to make your to navigate… used for exit 1 (left lane of
limit on a sign; these are Roundabouts exit: if your exit is on your far highway), 2 and 3. The far
usually around populated Speaking of roundabouts, it left (exit 3), then you need Watty Vos Boulevard (the left exit is used to only exit
and school areas. is important to know where to switch to the left lane “paperclip” roundabout) on exit 3 (left lane of high-
you have to enter and on the high way before Probably the biggest round- way) and 4.
The four-lane highways drive on the roundabout to nearing the roundabout about on the island, the
contain the left-lane, also make your exit. A good rule so you can take the path “paperclip” roundabout “Las Americas”
known as the “fast” lane of thumb is to count the ex- that leads you directly to on the Watty Vos Boule- roundabout
for each direction. Here is its starting from your right your exit. If your exit is on vard is one of the trickier The Las Americas round-
where vehicles can drive side. So, exit 1 would be your right or if you’re going roundabouts that could— about is located near the
up to the maximum speed. on your right; exit 2 would straight ahead, you can and has—caused con- Talk of the Town hotel, west
However, legally it is not be straight ahead; exit 3 keep driving in the right fused among both tourists from the airport round-
permitted to drive for long would be on your far left lane of the highway. and locals. However, once about. This roundabout
periods of time on the left and exit 4 would lead to you take a good look at it, may look like a regular
lane. This lane is primar- the road paralleled to the It’s also important to know it’s fairly simple. The basis roundabout—and for the
ily designed for drivers one you’re on, heading in that vehicles about to en- is just the same as a regu- most part, it is. However,
to switch lanes before a the other direction. ter the roundabout must lar roundabout (left exit? when you are driving from
roundabout, for example, yield to those already on it. left lane! etc.), but instead the east going in the direc-
if your exit on the round- Most roundabouts have A good rule of thumb is to of having four different ex- tion of town, please take
about is on your far left. these 4 exits, so they are rel- look out if someone is com- its like on a regular round- note that there are two ex-
The general lane to drive atively simple. When you’re ing from your left side. about, now you have two its on your right.
in—both at maximum and driving on the four-lane extra; one on the right and
minimum speed—is on the highway, it is important to However, other round- the other on the left side of When you’re driving to-
right lane. know when to switch to abouts can be quite tricky the roundabout. The rules wards this roundabout,
don’t change at all, you you’ll notice that the road
just have to keep an extra becomes wider, splitting
eye open. into two lanes. The right
lane is used to take the
Airport roundabout first and second exit on
Ah, yes. The infamous air- the right. If you want to exit
port roundabout. The fa- straight ahead, you must
vorite roundabout amongst drive on the left lane!
local, because of its easy
(hard) lanes that never It’s always scary to drive in
(always) cause confusion new places where the traf-
among drivers. Sarcasm fic may look and work dif-
aside, this roundabout can ferently, but once you get
be tricky to enter, especial- it right once, you’ll get the
ly when you’re driving from hang of it in no time. Ad-
the direction of the airport ditionally, all roundabouts
heading. When you’re driv- and roads on Aruba have
ing away from the airport signs and arrows painted
reaching the roundabout, on the road to help guide
you’ll be faced with three you. So take your time,
lanes. The far right lane is keep your eyes open and
to take the exit 1 out head- don’t forget to wear a seat
ing east (right lane of high- belt!q
way). The middle exit is