Driving in Norway vs. Switzerland: Key Safety Differences

When navigating the roads of Norway and Switzerland, drivers encounter distinct regulations and practices that influence their travel experience. Key differences include speed limits, lane markings, and alcohol tolerances. Understanding these variations can enhance your road safety and ensure a smoother journey in these picturesque countries.

norwayswitzerland

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in norway is 96

1.912 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for norway is 1.912 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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	Norway	Switzerland
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.	Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Not standard in Norway.	Used in temporary traffic management.
Overtaking: On Right	Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.	Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence	Yes	No
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	Minimum two or more occupants	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

norway:

Used to separate traffic moving in opposite directions.

switzerland:

Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

norway:

Not standard in Norway.

switzerland:

Used in temporary traffic management.

Overtaking: On Right

norway:

Only permitted in specific situations, e.g., if the vehicle in front has signaled a left turn.

switzerland:

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

High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence

norway:

Yes

switzerland:

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

norway:

Minimum two or more occupants

switzerland:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Norway	Switzerland
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	90-110 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90-100 km/h	100 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes	Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

norway:

90-110 km/h

switzerland:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

norway:

90-100 km/h

switzerland:

100 km/h

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

norway:

Yes

switzerland:

Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.

Signals

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	Norway	Switzerland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Norway	Prepare to go
Traffic Signs: Language	Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places	Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular-shaped with red border	Triangular-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

norway:

Not used in Norway

switzerland:

Prepare to go

Traffic Signs: Language

norway:

Norwegian; symbols are standard, with English in some places

switzerland:

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

Traffic Signs: Warning

norway:

Triangular-shaped with red border

switzerland:

Triangular-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Norway		Switzerland
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed		Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by locality; check for signs		Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Right Turn On Red

norway:

Not allowed

switzerland:

Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it

U- Turns Allowed

norway:

Varies by locality; check for signs

switzerland:

Allowed unless prohibited by sign

Documentation

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	Norway	Switzerland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted with a national driving license	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	Yes, periodic inspection required	Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	None	Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory

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

norway:

Accepted with a national driving license

switzerland:

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

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

norway:

International Driving Permit recommended

switzerland:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

norway:

Yes, periodic inspection required

switzerland:

Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

norway:

None

switzerland:

Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

norway:

Recommended

switzerland:

Not mandatory

Alcohol

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	Norway	Switzerland
Limits: General Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.02%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used frequently	Common; police conduct random breath tests
Enforcement: Fines	High fines and possible license revocation	Substantial; fines can be based on income
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fines

Limits: General Drivers

norway:

0.02%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Professional Drivers

norway:

0.02%

switzerland:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

norway:

0.00%; zero tolerance

switzerland:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

norway:

Common; checkpoints used frequently

switzerland:

Common; police conduct random breath tests

Enforcement: Fines

norway:

High fines and possible license revocation

switzerland:

Substantial; fines can be based on income

Test Refusal

norway:

Can result in license suspension

switzerland:

Can result in license suspension and fines

Roundabouts

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	Norway		Switzerland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry		No signaling normally required when entering
Lane Usage: Right	Use for first exit or straight		Use for the first exit or straight

Signaling: Entering

norway:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

switzerland:

No signaling normally required when entering

Lane Usage: Right

norway:

Use for first exit or straight

switzerland:

Use for the first exit or straight

Emergency Services

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	Norway	Switzerland
Contact: Traffic Police	02800	117
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or NAF	140
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Recommended	Not mandatory, but recommended

Contact: Traffic Police

norway:

02800

switzerland:

117

Contact: Roadside Assistance

norway:

Check with your insurance provider or NAF

switzerland:

140

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

norway:

Recommended

switzerland:

Not mandatory, but recommended

Penalties And Fines

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	Norway	Switzerland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license	Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
Common Fines: Alcohol	Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment	Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts	1500 NOK	CHF 60
Common Fines: Phone Use	1700 NOK	CHF 100
Payment: On The Spot	Yes, typically required	Common; fines can be issued on the spot
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically a few weeks to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

norway:

Varies; substantial fines and possible points on license

switzerland:

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

Common Fines: Alcohol

norway:

Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment

switzerland:

Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time

Common Fines: Seat Belts

norway:

1500 NOK

switzerland:

CHF 60

Common Fines: Phone Use

norway:

1700 NOK

switzerland:

CHF 100

Payment: On The Spot

norway:

Yes, typically required

switzerland:

Common; fines can be issued on the spot

Payment: Deadline

norway:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

switzerland:

Varies; typically a few weeks to pay