Guide to Driving in Switzerland

Switzerland has one of the lowest crash & collision rates in the entire Europe. This is due mainly to an excellent road infrastructure. You won’t find a single road with large cracks and bumps; everything is well-maintained. It’s almost like an invitation to speeding, but we definitely don’t recommend that. The traffic is on the right and overtakes are on the left. You’ll encounter a lot of police cars which have radar systems installed, so you’ll be fined in no time. There are also speeding cameras placed in strategic locations; in this case the fine is emitted based upon the license plate. Another thing we must say is that you need to drive with caution if you’re planning to head to the Alps. The Alpine passes are really narrow and the road is winding often. In unmarked intersections you must give way to vehicles coming from your right and in roundabouts make sure you give way to vehicles that are already inside. The only mandatory equipment that needs to be inside every car is the reflecting triangle. Because Switzerland is not such a large country, parking in some areas can be tricky. There are more than 5 million cars registered. In cities you need to find the blue zones in order to park. However, you do require a blue disk which can be acquired at gas stations or police stations.

Police cars in Switzerland are white with bright orange stripes on the sides. You can encounter the word ‘POLICE’ or ‘POLIZEI’ because in Switzerland no less than 4 different languages are spoken. In case that a police officer pulls you over, it might be just for a routine check; here what you need to have in your car all the time: third-party insurance policy, your identification card, your domestic driver’s license (if it’s not already in French, English or German you need an official translation) and your vehicle’s registration.

Essential Driving Information

• It’s considered illegal to use a mobile phone without an appropriate hands-free device attached while driving.
• Passengers both in front and in the rear seats must fasten their seatbelts as soon as they got in the vehicle.
• The recommended way of warning other drivers or pedestrians about potential dangers is by flashing your headlights; the horn must be used only in extreme cases.
• The dipped beam should be used only when the visibility condition drops and in tunnels.
• Driving on Swiss motorways require a special sticker which can be found on the motorway entries. The price is less than €20.