How is the driving/traffic there?

[felle442]

Originally Posted by lizgizmo

Is it crazy like in Nassau Bahamas. I would like to rent a car. And the girls are old enough to rent mo-peds but I am always concerned about the drivers.

So on a Scale of 1-10 /10 being extreme- what do you think?

Thanks
Liz

I've found that the amount of traffice depends on the time of year...but I would not describe it as crazy! Can get congested going thru downtown but otherwise fine.

[Windy]

Originally Posted by wildewoman

We rented a car & drove all over - we got lost a few times & were actually surprised when we looked up & there was Flying Fish bone!!

It was easy - even in town!!

We rented a car on our last trip, and explored all over the island -- great fun! It took us forever to find el gauchos tho -- my husband says maybe we should take the gps this time!!!!

[Andrea J.]

we brought our garmin nuvi on our last trip.
nothing...nada.... the hour glass kept spinning and it kept reading "acquiring signal"

we were told our garmin would not work there (is it preset to n america or to usa)?
and brought it just to try it out and prove the naysayer wrong.

[Randi]

Driving is easy and quite frankly, I would rather drive myself. More fatal accidents since I have been here. I am not sure what is going on. Last Monday, on my way back from picking DH from airport, we could see on the opposite side of the highway (near La Cabana) the road was closed with a tangled mess of a motorcycle and a car. We were sure that this must have been serious from the look of the motorcycle.

Apparently, two motorclycles were racing and the "winner" looked back to see where the other one was and hit a car. He died of his injuries. Then there was another crash a few days later.

Highway now has speed limits posted and we have seen much more of a police presence on the highway too. These people need to slow down and stop drinking and driving. You need to be so careful. Many local people are getting very angry with all the accidents too.

[SanNic44]

Andrea has it right. I would avoid the mopeds unless you're staying in the area of the high-rise to low-rise.

As for the driving, you have to be on the constant look out. Local drivers typically do not stop behind the line, but like to poke their nose over it and then seemingly to see if you'll hesitate or hit the break at which time they shoot out in front of you. Their timing is frequently poor and collisions occur.

Another challenge is the racing of motor cycles and four-cylinder fools. Although, the last several nights I have seen a significant police presence on the highway near the high rise area and near Balashi where they have been tagging and bagging these knuckleheads.

Still, driving here can be a three dimensional experience as the really good drivers leave the bars and can actually land on top of you after they roll it several times after losing total control at high speed.

Other than that, not so bad.

44

[Arubalisa]

Originally Posted by Windy

-- my husband says maybe we should take the gps this time!!!!

Originally Posted by Andrea J.

we brought our garmin nuvi on our last trip.
nothing...nada.... the hour glass kept spinning and it kept reading "acquiring signal

http://rwsmaps.griffel.se/This a map of Aruba you many download on Garmin.
But speaking from experience, like Andrea said, it was useless. Sometimes it will direct you however it only had the main (and I mean MAIN) roads. More than half the time it was recalculating. With airline weight restrictions what they are imo not worth packing.

[Windy]

I guess we'll leave the Garmin at home! We found that you need to drive with care, as cars not only don't stop at the lines, sometimes they don't stop at all! And some will suddenly take a turn right in front of you! (thru a stop sign or even red light) Best to drive defensibly!!!

[Sunny Beaches]

Windy, also use caution at the crest of hills, locals pass when ever!

[fattypatty]

i don't think it's the poor timing that causes the accidents. it's the weak horsepower of the cars on the road. once they stop, they can't accelerate with the quickness to do what they're trying to do - speed out ahead of you.

[Chadd]

Originally Posted by fattypatty

i don't think it's the poor timing that causes the accidents. it's the weak horsepower of the cars on the road. once they stop, they can't accelerate with the quickness to do what they're trying to do - speed out ahead of you.

Knowing the limitations of your vehicle is an important, and often overlooked, aspect of driving.