I would like to share with you some very useful information, if you prefer to travel by car or hire a car. It is a driving guide for Switzerland. I found it when I was planning to go to Switzerland, by car hire Zurich.
Driving Guide for Switzerland
Switzerland is known for having some of the best roads in the world. You will be very happy with the quality and usability of the road system. Driving in Switzerland is very similar to other countries in the European Union because they all have comparable signs and laws. If you are unfamiliar with the road signs, click here to learn more. Follow this simple guide and you will have a great time while driving in Switzerland.
Driver’s License
EU license - Any license issued from an EU country is valid in Switzerland
Non EU license - Your license is valid if in English, French, Germany or Italian. Other licenses need to be supplemented with an IDP. It is recommended for all foreign licenses to have an IDP.
All drivers
-Must be at least 18 years of age
-If your license is not from the EU, you might want to obtain an international driving permit (IDP) to use in conjunction with your current license. It is not required, but it is a good idea to travel with one.
Speed Limits
Residential areas -30 km/h
Urban roads (built up areas) -50 km/h
Rural roads (one lane) - 80 km/h
Minor highways (two lanes) -100 km/h
Major highways (Autobahn) -120 km/h
The roads are almost always clearly marked with a speed limit sign. You need to remember that the speed limits are expressed in kilometers per hour (km/h) and that they are the maximum allowable speed. It is common for motorists to receive tickets while traveling only 5 km/h over the posted limit. If you are ever unsure of the speed limit, you can follow these general guidelines and you should be in good shape.
Rules of the Road
Flow of traffic
-Drive on the RIGHT side of the road
-Pass vehicles on the left side only
-Always yield to traffic coming from the right
-In Roundabouts, yield to traffic coming from the left
The driver
-May not use a mobile phone (hands free only)
-Blood alcohol content must be .05% or less
-Must carry a spare set of glasses or contacts
Passengers
-Need to wear seatbelts at all times
-Under age of 7 must be in the proper safety seat
-Under age of 12 may not sit in the front seat
-Are not allowed to distract any drivers
Other rules
-Headlights should be used at all times
-Need a highway sticker to travel on the Autobahn
-It is important to abide by these rules to save yourself from trouble with the law.You can buy a highway sticker at a post office, border area, train station or service station. The fine for traveling without the sticker is about 4 times more expensive than buying one.
Parking in Switzerland
The majority of on street parking is categorized by color. In the blue zone, you can park for 90 minutes but you need to use the blue disc time device. Ask your rental company if there is a parking disc in the car. Red zones allow you to park for up to 15 hours, but you must clearly display the red disc time device. White zones are free. Other parking areas might require you to prepay at an automatic parking machine. In this case, you need to display the parking voucher on your dashboard. Never park your car in a yellow zone!
Off street parking is safe and saves you from possible violations, but they are generally more expensive. Another option is to park outside of the city and ride to the center. These parking lots are often free of charge. You will have to pay for the transportation however.
*Information on this page is accurate as of May 26, 2009
This information was provided by Car Hire Zurich before my trip.
