Driving Differences: Switzerland vs Tunisia Explained
When exploring the roads of Switzerland and Tunisia, understanding their unique traffic regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include lane markings, speed limits, and alcohol tolerance. While Switzerland emphasizes strict adherence to rules, Tunisia balances leniency with local customs. This guide will help you navigate these diverse driving environments with confidence.
Lanes
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for temporary road changes or construction zones. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Used in temporary traffic management. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations. | Not typically permitted. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
tunisia:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
tunisia:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
tunisia:
Not typically permitted.
Bus Lanes: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
tunisia:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
tunisia:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
tunisia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
tunisia:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 110 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
tunisia:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
80 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
120 km/h
tunisia:
110 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
100 km/h
tunisia:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
tunisia:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
tunisia:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
tunisia:
Yes
Signals
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not typically used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used | Arabic and French; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
switzerland:
Prepare to go
tunisia:
Not typically used
Traffic Signs: Language
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
tunisia:
Arabic and French; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
tunisia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by sign | Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted |
Right Turn On Red
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
tunisia:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
tunisia:
Allowed at intersections unless otherwise posted
Documentation
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available | Mandatory; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
switzerland:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
tunisia:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
tunisia:
Mandatory; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
tunisia:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging | Common practice, especially in heavy traffic | Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use |
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging
switzerland:
Common practice, especially in heavy traffic
tunisia:
Encouraged, especially in heavy traffic
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
switzerland:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
tunisia:
Moderate use
Alcohol
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance policy |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police conduct random breath tests | Common; checkpoints used broadly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income | Substantial; varies by offense |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can result in license suspension |
Limits: Professional Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
tunisia:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
switzerland:
0.00%
tunisia:
0.00%; zero tolerance policy
Enforcement: Random Checks
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
tunisia:
Common; checkpoints used broadly
Enforcement: Fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
tunisia:
Substantial; varies by offense
Test Refusal
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
tunisia:
Can result in license suspension
Roundabouts
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | No signaling normally required when entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry |
| Lane Usage: Right | Use for the first exit or straight | Use for first exit or straight |
Signaling: Entering
switzerland:
No signaling normally required when entering
tunisia:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
tunisia:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 197 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 197 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 140 | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
switzerland:
112
tunisia:
197
Contact: Traffic Police
switzerland:
117
tunisia:
197
Contact: Roadside Assistance
switzerland:
140
tunisia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
tunisia:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Switzerland | Tunisia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension | Varies; DT 40 to DT 500 |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | CHF 60 | DT 40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | CHF 100 | DT 60 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Varies; DT 60 to DT 200 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
tunisia:
Varies; DT 40 to DT 500
Common Fines: Seat Belts
switzerland:
CHF 60
tunisia:
DT 40
Common Fines: Phone Use
switzerland:
CHF 100
tunisia:
DT 60
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
tunisia:
Varies; DT 60 to DT 200
Payment: On The Spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
tunisia:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
tunisia:
Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay