You've decided to visit our island, and you are about to reserve a rental car for your trip. That's great and even better if you rent from us: Leisure Car Rental.
In this article, we'd like to describe your driving experience on our Caribbean island a bit and also give a few hints about how to travel safer and faster.
And no matter what you read below, please be assured that driving on Sint Maarten - Saint Martin is easy-peasy. The island truly is made to be discovered by rental car - this is one of the biggest selling points to vacationers, who have experienced the restrictions on other Caribbean destinations.
St. Maarten Traffic: Out of Chaos Comes Courtesy
Thirty-seven square miles, administered by two separate nations - this in itself is pretty absurd. Would you believe that these two countries didn't even manage to synchronize their traffic laws? Yes - you've read right. The traffic rules between Dutch and French SXM are different. While the French side adheres to standard European Community traffic law, the Dutch side has a slightly different concept, valid only for the Caribbean islands of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
There is one default rule for the 'right of way' on the French side: Traffic coming from the right has the right of way if not otherwise indicated. This sounds easy in theory because, in Europe, main roads are indicated with a sign, and traffic merging or turning onto the main road has a street sign telling them that they have to yield. If there are no signs, cars coming from the right have the right of way. Unfortunately, the French side never bothered to put up this essential signage, so traveling on an obvious main road officially doesn't give you the right of way. Confusing?
On the Dutch side, a car turning always has to yield - if not indicated otherwise.
You will notice that local drivers are very courteous. If you want to turn onto the main road, just make your intention clear and another car will let you in without any fuzz. The lack of consistent street signs created a driving style where everyone is looking out for everyone else because you can't trust the government to have it sorted out for you. In case you wonder: local drivers know that you operate a rental car. On the Dutch side, the number plates for rentals start with an 'R', on the French side... a local sees it anyway. While in the USA, marking rental cars as such became a 'no no' already in the nineties due to some scary incidents, especially in the Miami region. Here on SXM, you are actually protected by it. Locals will be very understanding if you have to take it slow and if you have to find your bearings on the roads. They will forgive minor mistakes and in most cases, they will help you blend in with traffic. And not to forget: On a vacation destination island, the cops are aware that they are responsible for guaranteeing a visitor's good time. They will not target a rental car for infractions, the worst will be a piece of friendly information about local rules
Speed Limits on Sint Maarten - Saint Martin
There are no radar speed traps on the island and the police on both sides are not really equipped to check speed. Lately, the Gendarmes seem to occassionally borrow a radar gun from Goudaloupe, but they harrass drivers only during the wee-hours of the morning in regions where you, the visitor, won't drive. Officially, the speed limit on the Dutch side is 50 km/h, which is 32 mph. How people drive unofficially is a different story. On the French side, there are a few roads outside towns, where 70 km/h or 45 mph is allowed.
As a visitor, the biggest favor you can do to yourself and others sharing our narrow roads is to return the courtesies shown to you. Each time you let someone from a driveway coming onto the main road, you will get a short 'beep' as a thank-you.
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