Driving Differences: Switzerland vs. Vanuatu
When exploring the driving landscapes of Switzerland and Vanuatu, significant contrasts emerge. From road markings and speed regulations to alcohol limits and traffic protocols, each country has unique practices. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey abroad, allowing travelers to navigate confidently in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| 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. | Bicycles generally share the road with cars. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | N/A |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable in Vanuatu. |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used for temporary road changes or construction zones.
vanuatu:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
switzerland:
Used in temporary traffic management.
vanuatu:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right
switzerland:
Not typically allowed, except in certain slow-moving traffic situations.
vanuatu:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
switzerland:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Bus Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
vanuatu:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
switzerland:
Exclusive for bicycles.
vanuatu:
Bicycles generally share the road with cars.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
switzerland:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
vanuatu:
N/A
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
switzerland:
N/A
vanuatu:
Not applicable in Vanuatu.
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits.
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Speeds Limits
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 30-50 km/h | 30-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 120 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used in Vanuatu. |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | Rare |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot. | Yes; fines can be issued directly. |
Urban Areas: Standard
switzerland:
30-50 km/h
vanuatu:
30-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
switzerland:
80 km/h
vanuatu:
50-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
switzerland:
120 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
switzerland:
100 km/h
vanuatu:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
switzerland:
Yes
vanuatu:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
switzerland:
Electronic signs display current limits
vanuatu:
Not commonly used in Vanuatu.
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
switzerland:
Yes
vanuatu:
Rare
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
switzerland:
Yes, drivers can be fined on the spot.
vanuatu:
Yes; fines can be issued directly.
Signals
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepare to go | Not used in Vanuatu |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used | English; 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
vanuatu:
Not used in Vanuatu
Traffic Signs: Language
switzerland:
Symbols are standard, French, German, Italian and Rumantsch languages are used
vanuatu:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
switzerland:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
vanuatu:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it | Not typically allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by sign | Varies; check local regulations and signs |
Right Turn On Red
switzerland:
Prohibited unless a specific sign allows it
vanuatu:
Not typically allowed
U- Turns Allowed
switzerland:
Allowed unless prohibited by sign
vanuatu:
Varies; check local regulations and signs
Documentation
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Insurance | Liability insurance mandatory | Third-party insurance mandatory |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available | Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle | No standard requirement |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
switzerland:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended for non-French/German/Italian speaking licenses
vanuatu:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Insurance
switzerland:
Liability insurance mandatory
vanuatu:
Third-party insurance mandatory
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
switzerland:
Vehicle inspection is required regularly; proof must be available
vanuatu:
Required; proof may be checked during traffic stops
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
switzerland:
Proof of inspection is kept in the vehicle
vanuatu:
No standard requirement
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull to the side and stop, if necessary |
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
switzerland:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
vanuatu:
Pull to the side and stop, if necessary
Alcohol
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% - zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; police conduct random breath tests | Occasional |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; fines can be based on income | Fines can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension and fines | Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest |
Limits: Professional Drivers
switzerland:
0.05%
vanuatu:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
switzerland:
0.00%
vanuatu:
0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
switzerland:
Common; police conduct random breath tests
vanuatu:
Occasional
Enforcement: Fines
switzerland:
Substantial; fines can be based on income
vanuatu:
Fines can be substantial
Test Refusal
switzerland:
Can result in license suspension and fines
vanuatu:
Can lead to penalties including fines or arrest
Roundabouts
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
vanuatu:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
Lane Usage: Right
switzerland:
Use for the first exit or straight
vanuatu:
Use for first exit or straight
Emergency Services
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 117 | 112 for general assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 140 | Check with your insurance provider or local agencies |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
switzerland:
117
vanuatu:
112 for general assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
switzerland:
140
vanuatu:
Check with your insurance provider or local agencies
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
switzerland:
Mandatory
vanuatu:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Switzerland | Vanuatu | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be significant |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | CHF 60 | Fines apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | CHF 100 | Fines apply for use while driving |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; substantial fines | Fines applicable |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines can be issued on the spot | Possible; or through police stations |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically a few weeks to pay | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
switzerland:
Varies; CHF 40 to CHF 400+, can lead to license suspension
vanuatu:
Varies; can be significant
Common Fines: Seat Belts
switzerland:
CHF 60
vanuatu:
Fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
switzerland:
CHF 100
vanuatu:
Fines apply for use while driving
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
switzerland:
Varies; substantial fines
vanuatu:
Fines applicable
Payment: On The Spot
switzerland:
Common; fines can be issued on the spot
vanuatu:
Possible; or through police stations
Payment: Deadline
switzerland:
Varies; typically a few weeks to pay
vanuatu:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay