Driving Safely: Australia vs. Switzerland Road Rules
When exploring the road rules of Australia and Switzerland, travelers must be aware of notable contrasts that affect their journey. From driving on opposite sides to varying speed limits, understanding these distinctions is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable experience on foreign roads. Stay informed to navigate safely in both countries!
Lanes
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels. | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes. | Used in temporary traffic management. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Allowed | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Minimum two or more occupants | N/A |
Driving Side
australia:
Left
switzerland:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; can indicate the left edge in tunnels.
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
australia:
Not commonly used; may mark reversible lanes.
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Left
australia:
Allowed
switzerland:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
australia:
Not allowed except on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
australia:
Use leftmost lane.
switzerland:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
australia:
Reserved for buses and taxis; usage by others restricted.
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
australia:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS LANE'; often with road signs.
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
australia:
Yes
switzerland:
No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
australia:
Minimum two or more occupants
switzerland:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 40 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100-110 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100-110 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; may vary by area. | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. |
Urban Areas: Standard
australia:
50 km/h
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
australia:
40 km/h
switzerland:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
australia:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
80-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
australia:
100-110 km/h
switzerland:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
australia:
100-110 km/h
switzerland:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
australia:
90-100 km/h
switzerland:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
australia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
australia:
Common; may vary by area.
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
Signals
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not commonly used. | Prepare to go |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when entering and exiting | Signal when exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English; symbols are standard | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
australia:
Not commonly used.
switzerland:
Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
australia:
Signal when entering and exiting
switzerland:
Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
australia:
English; symbols are standard
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning
australia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed, except where signage permits. | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs. | Allowed unless prohibited by sign |
Right Turn On Red
australia:
Not allowed, except where signage permits.
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed
australia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs.
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
Documentation
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended. | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Varies by state; proof may be required | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
australia:
Accepted for short periods; International Driving Permit recommended.
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
australia:
Varies by state; proof may be required
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
australia:
Displayed on license plate or windshield in some states
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory
switzerland:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
australia:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.02% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance in all states. | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; roadside breath testing often conducted | Common; police conduct random breath tests |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies by state; can be substantial | Substantial; fines can be based on income |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: Professional Drivers
australia:
0.02%
switzerland:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
australia:
0.00%; zero tolerance in all states.
switzerland:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
australia:
Common; roadside breath testing often conducted
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines
australia:
Varies by state; can be substantial
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal
australia:
Can result in license suspension
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Roundabouts
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal right if intending to turn immediately | No signaling normally required when entering |
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal left when preparing to exit | Signal right when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for first exit or straight | Use for the first exit or straight |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Entering
australia:
Signal right if intending to turn immediately
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
Signaling: Exiting
australia:
Signal left when preparing to exit
switzerland:
Signal right when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Right
australia:
Use for first exit or straight
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
Lane Usage: Left
australia:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
switzerland:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 000 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by state; contact local police | 117 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or NRMA | 140 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Not mandatory, but recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
australia:
000
switzerland:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
australia:
Varies by state; contact local police
switzerland:
117
Contact: Roadside Assistance
australia:
Check with your insurance provider or NRMA
switzerland:
140
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
australia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
switzerland:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Australia | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible | CHF 60 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible | CHF 100 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible | Varies; substantial fines |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes; varies by jurisdiction. | Common; fines can be issued on the spot |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
australia:
Varies; AUD 100 to AUD 3,000, demerit points possible
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 500, demerit points possible
switzerland:
CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use
australia:
AUD 200 to AUD 1,600, demerit points possible
switzerland:
CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
australia:
AUD 300 to AUD 900, demerit points possible
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot
australia:
Yes; varies by jurisdiction.
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline
australia:
Varies; typically 14 to 28 days to pay
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay