Driving in Denmark vs. Switzerland: Key Differences

Discover the unique nuances of road regulations between Denmark and Switzerland, two countries known for their strict driving standards. From speed limits and lane markings to alcohol restrictions, this comparison sheds light on essential variations that ensure safe travel. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for any driver navigating abroad.

denmarkswitzerland

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in denmark is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in denmark is 93

2.123 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for denmark is 2.123 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Used temporarily in construction zones.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right	Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Not applicable	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

denmark:

Marks the central reservation on dual carriageways.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

denmark:

Used temporarily in construction zones.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Right

denmark:

Generally prohibited, except in congested multilane traffic.

switzerland:

Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.

Bus Lanes: Usage

denmark:

Reserved for buses and sometimes bicycles and taxis.

switzerland:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

denmark:

Labeled 'BUS' with road signs indicating restrictions.

switzerland:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

denmark:

Bicycle symbols and often green or red colored pavement.

switzerland:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

denmark:

Not applicable

switzerland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Urban Areas: Standard	50 km/h	30-50 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	110-130 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90-100 km/h	100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes, for minor offenses.	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Urban Areas: Standard

denmark:

50 km/h

switzerland:

30-50 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

denmark:

110-130 km/h

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

denmark:

90-100 km/h

switzerland:

100 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

denmark:

Yes, for minor offenses.

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Used before green.	Prepare to go
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	Danish; symbols are standard	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red border	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

denmark:

Used before green.

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

denmark:

Signal when entering and exiting

switzerland:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

denmark:

Danish; symbols are standard

switzerland:

Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used

Traffic Signs: Warning

denmark:

Triangular with red border

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed	Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
Left Turn: General	Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.	Permitted unless prohibited by signs
U- Turns Allowed	Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.	Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

denmark:

Not allowed

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

Left Turn: General

denmark:

Permitted unless prohibited by signs, give way to crossing traffic and pedestrians.

switzerland:

Permitted unless prohibited by signs

U- Turns Allowed

denmark:

Allowed unless prohibited by a sign.

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on the windshield	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

denmark:

Accepted; no additional permits needed for short stays

switzerland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

denmark:

International Driving Permit recommended

switzerland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

denmark:

Mandatory periodic inspections for vehicles

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

denmark:

Displayed on the windshield

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

denmark:

Recommended

switzerland:

Not mandatory

Alcohol

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; carried out by the police	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	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

denmark:

0.02%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

denmark:

0.00%; zero tolerance

switzerland:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

denmark:

Common; carried out by the police

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

denmark:

Can be substantial

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

denmark:

Can result in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Denmark		Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal left if taking any exit other than first		No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

denmark:

Signal left if taking any exit other than first

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Lane Usage: Right

denmark:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Contact: Traffic Police	Contact general emergency to report traffic issues	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Contact your insurer or patrol services	140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended but not mandatory	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

denmark:

Contact general emergency to report traffic issues

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

denmark:

Contact your insurer or patrol services

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

denmark:

Recommended but not mandatory

switzerland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Denmark	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol	Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, use of hands-free required	CHF 100
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Significant fines and possible license points	Varies; substantial fines
Payment: On The Spot	Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically within 14 days	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

denmark:

Varies; fines proportional to salary, can be significant

switzerland:

Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension

Common Fines: Alcohol

denmark:

Substantial fines, possible license forfeiture, or jail

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

denmark:

Fines apply, mandatory for front and rear seats

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

denmark:

Fines apply, use of hands-free required

switzerland:

CHF 100

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

denmark:

Significant fines and possible license points

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines

Payment: On The Spot

denmark:

Possible; fines usually handled through post or bank transfer

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

denmark:

Varies; typically within 14 days

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay