Guide to Driving in Switzerland: For Tourists and Prospective Expatriates

Switzerland is a country where you can enjoy the natural beauty of the Alps and its beautiful lakes. By traveling by car, you can freely explore places and spectacular scenery that are difficult to reach by train.

However, foreigners need to be careful when driving because traffic rules are different from those in Japan and other countries.

Here,For TravelersandFor prospective expatriatesThe following is a summary of useful information for driving in Switzerland, divided into the following sections.

For Travelers: Tips for Using a Rental Car

• Do I need an international driver's license? → IDP recommended for licenses other than English, German, French, Italian
• Highways are Vignette (toll seal/CHF 40/year) indispensable
• Speed limit: 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h in suburban areas, 120 km/h on highways
• Lompoine (roundabout) is "left is priority"
• Streetcars have priority over cars

For prospective expatriates: Switching licenses and living in Japan

• Required to change your driver's license to a Swiss license within one year of immigration.
• Vision test required → Opticians with an ophthalmologist can perform the test and prepare the paperwork.
• Studless tires are required in winter, and chains should be prepared in mountain areas.
• Strict parking rules: blue zone (disc), white zone (pay), yellow zone (prohibited)

Be aware of the differences from Japan.

• The traffic rule is "cars coming from the right have priority."
• However, at Rompoin (roundabout), "left has priority" + "cars already in the car also have priority.
• No need to stop at railroad crossings unless the circuit breaker is down.
• Japanese habitually "look right and look left" when crossing the street,Switzerland is a right-hand drive country, so you need to switch to "look left, look right".

summary

Switzerland is a country with strict traffic rules and strict enforcement, but this makes it a safe and comfortable place to drive once you get used to it.

Travelers can enjoy the freedom of traveling in a rental car, while prospective expatriates can enjoy driving for a living and safely enjoy the roads of Switzerland.