We just arrived back from 2 weeks in Aruba - we have timeshare at Playa Linda. On our first night there, we had dinner with two other couples who are our "vacation friends", went to the casino at the Allegro. They left a little before us and on the way back to the Playa Linda they decided to cross the street for ice cream at Baskin Robbins. A car was speeding down the road, saw them and braked -- left a 75 ft. skid mark and hit the two of them. Fortunately they lived, but they were badly hurt.
Just a warning -- make sure the way is clear and you can judge the speed of approaching cars.
The police say they will be installing speed bumps in front of Playa Linda, Hyatt and Holiday Inn. The area has developed so much and has produced a lot of pedestrian traffic from the hotels to the restaurant/shopping areas.

Marg is right on with this one! Many of the Arubians, and tourists as well, drive like maniacs, and speed is certainly a big issue! Take note of all the crosses you see along the main street behind the high-rise hotels. Many have died!

I have noticed too that it's pretty dark around that area too. We walk along the hotel side but cross the street to get to the Arawak Garden or Aqua Grill. Since this is really the only road between the strip & downtown, there is a lot of traffic and the more building they do, the more there will be. Careful out there.

Marg,
I'm glad to hear that the 2 people who were hit by the car are going to be ok. We were also in Aruba when that accident happened and I was driving near the Playa Linda about 10 minutes after it happened and saw the ambulance going to the accident. One of my business associates was in a cab that was behind the car that hit the people. He actually saw the woman being thrown into the air. We had heard that the car was driven by an American tourist but I didn't see anything in the paper. We just heard that he was arrested. Again, I'm glad that the people will recover.

be very carefull crossing the street!!!

Yes, it will be a long recovery for both of them. He has a fractured pelvis -- (for which he had to go back to the hospital 2 days later because he was experiencing so much pain. Further x-rays showed the fracture.) She has experienced continuing headaches and was bruised from head to toe. She has had a cat-scan in the U.S., but we haven't had results from that yet.
The car that hit them was driven by a British tourist, not American, but yes he was charged. We are just so glad that they are alive -- it certainly could have been much worse. It was fortunate that the driver of the car wasn't drinking, or he might not have hit the brakes as quickly and would have hit our friends at a much greater speed. As it was, he left a 75 ft. skid mark. Speed bumps have been promised -- I certainly would like to know that they'll be installed soon.

Good warning Marg. Thanks. But a more important message would be to slow down and drive carefully. I wouldn't know why someone would think it was ok to drive like that on a resort island, that would have many pedestrians.

it amazes me everyday how people drive. put me in Aruba and i will drive like a sloth, traffic permitting or not ever exceed the speed limit. 6 miles wide, 20 long, what is your hurry. got to pee, pull over and take that ticket instead of a life. nuff said.