Practical Information

Driving in Switzerland

When driving in Switzerland, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

Rules & Regulations

• Drive on the right
• Third party insurance is obligatory
• Seat belts are compulsory for all occupants
• Approved child seat compulsory for children under 7
• Children under 12 are not allowed to sit in the front seat
• Hazard lights may only be used to warn of danger
• No horn use allowed after dark
• No noise that could disturb people allowed from a car's occupants
• Minimum driving age is 18
• Mobile phones may only be used with a hands-free system
• Headlights must on in tunnels
• Headlights should be on and dipped during daylight hours, especially on major routes
• Each car must carry a red warning triangle (reflective vests are not obligatory)
• All vehicle paperwork should be carried at all times when driving: driving licence, insurance details, exhaust emissions test certificate, car registration papers
• Drivers using eyeglasses or contact lenses must carry spare eyeglasses in the car
• Snow chains are obligatory in some winter conditions
• Helmets are compulsory for driver and passenger on all scooters, motorbikes quad bikes and trikes

Speed limits

• 120 km/h: motorways/highways (green sign)
• 100 km/h: dual carriageways or semi-autoroutes (green sign)
• 80 km/h: outside built-up areas (except on dual-carriageways and motorways)
• 50 km/h: within towns and villages
• 30km/h: in some residential areas

Priority/Right of Way

• Right of way: When driving in a city, town or village, the right of way at an intersection is automatically given to the vehicle on the right - priorité à droite - unless otherwise indicated by stop or yield/give way signs. This applies even in the case of a small side road entering a major main road. The vehicle travelling on the main road must give way to the vehicle entering on the right
• Trams, police vehicles, ambulances, fire engines and busses have the right of way over passenger cars
• At a traffic circle: (round point, roundabout) the vehicle already on the circle has the right of way over vehicles joining from the right
• On hill roads: the car travelling uphill has priority over the one coming down
• Pedestrians have the right of way at black and white striped (zebra) crossings

Drunk Driving

• Drivers with an alcohol level between 0.5 g/l and 0.79 g/l will be charged with a fine and could be jailed
• If the level is higher than 0.8 g/l, in addition to the fine and the possibility of being arrested, the driver's licence will be confiscated for at least three months
• If a passenger of a drunk driver has a driving licence, they are held equally responsible