Speed limit in switzerland

Road safety in Switzerland is a top priority Speed limits play a decisive role in this But what happens if you drive too fast What fines can be imposed and what are the tolerance limits.

Find out everything you need to know about speeding fines in Switzerland in this comprehensive blog post.

1. The importance of speed limits

Speed limits are an essential part of road safety and are regulated differently on different types of roads:

  • Highways: Maximum speed limit of 120 km/h
  • Country roads: Maximum speed of 80 km/h
  • Towns and villages: Maximum speed of 50 km/h, often reduced to 30 km/h in residential areas

Adhering to these speed limits helps to prevent accidents and keep the roads safe for all road users.

2. Tolerance limits for speeding

In Switzerland, there are tolerance limits for speeding that vary depending on the type of road:

  • Freeways: A tolerance of 5 km/h applies here. This means that you can drive up to 125 km/h without immediately risking a fine.
  • Country roads: A tolerance of 5 km/h also applies on country roads.
  • Towns and villages: In 30 km/h zones, the tolerance is limited to 3 km/h. This means that you can drive up to 33 km/h without fear of being fined.

3. Costs for speeding

The amount of the fine for speeding can vary considerably depending on how much the speed limit was exceeded. Here are some examples:

  • Highway: Speeding 10 km/h over the speed limit can cost around CHF 40. The fine can increase significantly if the speed limit is exceeded.
  • Country roads: Similar to the highway, exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h can cost around CHF 40.
  • Towns and villages: Exceeding 10 km/h in a 30 km/h zone can cost up to CHF 250. If you exceed 40 km/h in a 30 km/h zone, the costs can be even higher.

The exact amount of the fine depends on various factors, including the severity of the offense and the driver’s individual situation.

4.  Special regulations and penalties

In addition to fines, there may also be other consequences for significant speeding. These include

  • Driving bans: A driving ban can be imposed for particularly high overruns or repeated offenses.
  • Entry in the criminal record: Serious traffic violations can also result in entries in the criminal record.
  • Points in the central traffic register: Points can be entered in your central traffic register for repeated violations.

How much tolerance is there on the highway in Switzerland?

On Swiss freeways, there is a small tolerance limit before speeding is penalized. This tolerance is intended to help take account of small deviations in speed.
On the highway, this tolerance is 5 km/h. This means that if you drive up to 125 km/h at a permitted speed of 120 km/h, you will not have to pay a fine. However, if you are driving at 126 km/h or faster, you will have to pay a fine.

What does it cost to drive 40 km/h in a 30 km/h zone?

If you are caught driving at 40 km/h in a 30 km/h zone, you are exceeding the speed limit by 7 km/h (after deducting a tolerance of 3 km/h). The penalty for exceeding the speed limit can cost up to CHF 250.-.

How much tolerance is there in the 30 km/h zone in Switzerland?

In the 30 km/h zones, which are often in residential areas or near schools, the tolerance limit is lower. Here the tolerance is only 3 km/h. This means that if you drive up to 33 km/h, you will not be fined. From 34 km/h or more, however, you must expect a fine.

Stay safe on the road and enjoy your journeys through Switzerland!

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