By Peter Hulm Sion’s driverless public shuttle buses celebrated their first anniversary of experimental operation in the mainly pedestrian precincts of the Valais capital on 23 June 2017. Switzerland’s PostAuto/PostBus, responsible for the 11-seater yellow electric vehicles built by the French company Navya, said the two SmartShuttles carried more than 21,500 people through the Sion […]
Swiss road tax vignettes set to become electronic
Switzerland’s federal council, or executive branch of government, has made further progress on coming up with an electronic replacement for the nation’s motorway tax sticker, or vignette. It released a report last week with details that bring its plans closer to reality. The sticker, which costs CHF 40 a year and was introduced in 1985, is […]
Swiss traffic worse in 2016, especially in Lausanne
Recently published traffic statistics by the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) show an increase in road traffic and the number of hours spent in traffic jams. In 2016, the total collective distance covered by drivers on Switzerland’s national network of motorways grew 2.4% to 25.9 billion kilometres, equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 33,750 […]
A small change to Zurich’s parking rules pushed ticket numbers up 21% in 2016
20 Minuten. In 2016, Zurich city raked in more than CHF 60 million in traffic fines, according to the city’s latest financial statements, published on 15 June 2017. The number of tickets issued rose by 20.7% to 503,888, and the reason why is quite clear. At the beginning of 2016, the policy of allowing a standard […]
Get ready for heavy traffic
Switzerland’s Federal Roads Office (FEDRO) issued a traffic warning today ahead of the long weekends in May and June. The public holiday this Thursday (Ascension) means many will take a day of leave on Friday to make a four-day weekend. Monday 5 June is also a public holiday (Pentecost) creating a three-day weekend. Later in […]
Swiss still show strong preference for car over train
Despite one of the world’s most efficient train networks, Swiss residents still overwhelmingly prefer hopping in their cars than getting on trains or other forms of transport. Of the 90 minutes an average Swiss resident spends moving every day they spend the vast majority of it in a car. In 2015, two thirds of trips were made […]
Petrol vehicles more polluting than diesel ones, according to Swiss research
Researchers at Bern’s University of Applied Sciences have done tests showing that modern petrol cars produce up to 100 times more particulate matter than diesel ones. The team has been testing exhaust emissions in a facility in Nidau for three years. The work has involved the collaboration of four organisations. According to a report by […]
Most annoying driving behaviours revealed in Swiss survey
A survey conducted by the insurer AXA Winterthur reveals the driving behaviours that most annoy Swiss. The act most likely to lead to road rage is following too close. Of the 1,200 people surveyed, 60.4% said they were often or very often annoyed by drivers who didn’t follow at a safe distance. Second on the […]
Geneva looking at getting rid of dozens of traffic lights
According to Swiss Broadcaster RTS, Geneva plans to replace traffic lights with stop or yield signs at around 25 intersections. The plan is designed to improve traffic fluidity. The information was obtained by the newspaper 20 Minutes, and later confirmed by the news agency ATS, which spoke with Yann Gerdil-Margueron, spokesperson for the Department for […]
Swiss highways already overloaded with Easter traffic
20 Minutes. School holiday dates overlap in several european countries this Easter. Many holiday makers try to head south at this time of year where the weather is starting to feel summery. Those who can depart early have an edge on those leaving on Friday. At least they hoped they would. According to the Swiss Federal […]
