Driving On St Martin

Although the island is split, when it comes to driving on St Martin, everyone adheres to the French traffic laws and you drive on the right hand side of the road. All road users must hold either a French or international diving license, which covers them across the entire territory. There are no borders or boundaries on Saint Martin, allowing drivers to come and go freely between the two areas.

The island is just under 90 km square, which keeps the road system fairly simply. There is in essence only one main ring road that skirts the island’s coastline, called Route Nationale 7. From this main road there are dozens of smaller roads linking up the more built up areas, such as Philipsburg. Other than during the peak of the high season, you shouldn’t really encounter many traffic jams, which makes St Martin a relatively stress-free place to drive.

Beeping Horns & Road Maps

If you are new to the island and quickly discover that you are hearing car horns left right and centre, as you gingerly drive down a quiet side road – don’t worry, it’s more than likely just the locals saying hi to each other. You will quickly learn that it’s customary for drivers to use their horn to greet others on Saint Martin.

The locals are extremely helpful and friendly on Saint Martin, so if you do find yourself a little lost or are struggling to find a specific address, simply ask for directions and you’ll be on your way in no time. It’s possible to pick up road maps from Saint Martin Tourist Office, as well as in a number of other shops and locations across the island.

Before you begin driving on St Martin, be sure to familiarise yourself with the French road laws. You may also find it useful to brush up on a few French words too.