Tribune de Genève.
Started two weeks ago, Geneva’s crackdown on those who block intersections, has been extended for a further fortnight. Drivers caught blocking the flow of transversal traffic through intersections will be fined CHF 60. The objective of the operation is freer moving traffic and clearer intersections.
Source: Facebook – Police Cantonale de Genève
The situation occurs when a car travelling through an intersection cannot pass through and out of an intersection, blocking perpendicular traffic trying to get through the same intersection when the lights change. Congestion in one direction, unecessarily blocks traffic travelling across it.
According to Tribune de Genève, Geneva’s Police have already issued 30 CHF 60 fines.
Article 12 of the Swiss highway code says: “When traffic is stationary, the driver must not block a pedestrian crossing or block an intersection to traffic travelling in the transversal direction.”
A police spokesperson speaking about the fines said it will be applied flexibly. Only dangerous driving will attract tickets at intersections. Surveillance cameras will not be used. “The video surveillance system doesn’t belong to us and can’t zoom in to see number plates” said the Police.
Public response on Facebook has been generally favourable, with some asking whether buses were included, and whether it was being applied to cycling lanes.
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Joan fry says
Please try to bring attention to bikes and their blatant flouting the law.
During this week alone I’ve had several narrow misses, one even a deliberate,”micro-agression”which is the forth this year.
Jeremy says
I really agree that introducing the yellow road junction box system would be great — Also if drivers in Switzerland used their indicators more (even occasionally) traffic would flow so much better.
Lisa says
When I moved to Geneva from the U.K. in 2001 I couldn’t believe the Swiss didn’t have cross-hatched boxes on the road at intersections specifically to stop this sort of thing happening. But then, the Swiss didn’t seem too keen on improving traffic flow by building more roundabouts either. And, as Joe says, pedestrian crossings right off roundabouts is an accident waiting to happen.
Joe says
Wish to hell they would sort out the pedestrian crossing.
What idiot thought of putting them at exits to round abouts
Talk about waiting for an accident to happen.
Larry says
It’s commonly referred to as “Gridlock”