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DRIVING

Swiss consider dropping legal driving age to 16

Swiss federal authorities are considering allowing young people to drive from the age of 16, provided they are accompanied by adults 30 years or older.

Published: 26 August 2013 10:42 CEST
Swiss consider dropping legal driving age to 16
Accompanied driver sticker used in France

The proposal is one of the ideas to improve training of drivers discussed by officials this summer, the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper reported.

The federal office of highways is set to draw up a list of recommendations by the end of the year, including the scheme for 16-year-olds.

Drivers in Switzerland are currently only allowed to receive a driver’s permit from the age of 18.

But groups such as the Touring Club Suisse (TCS) have been promoting the idea of allowing younger drivers, as long as they are accompanied by older adults with good driving records.

Under the proposal, those accompanying the youths would have to follow a specific training course.

Mauro Poggia, a federal MP from Geneva, filed a motion in December 2012 proposing the introduction of such a programme, saying that it has several advantages.

“It develops certain skills in traffic, notably the anticipation of danger,” Poggia is quoted as saying by Le Matin.

“Without forgetting that, if the youth behind the wheel is accompanied by his father or mother it can reinforce family ties.”

Other supporters of the proposal point to how similar programmes introduced in Germany and France have led to fewer accidents.

In France, youths from the age of 16 are permitted to drive with someone accompanying them who is at least 23-years-old and has held a driving permit for at least five years with an unblemished record.

The youth must first take an initial course from a driving school and subsequently has to take a course and pass a test at the age of 18.

In Germany, it is possible to have a driver’s permit from the age of 17 if the person is accompanied by a driver who is at least 30 years old with a clean record.

Britain is the only country in Europe where youths can obtain a permit to drive unaccompanied at the age of 17.

Critics of the proposal under study in Bern say that Swiss roads are already too crowded and accelerating the number of potential additional motorists — 40,000 a year — doesn’t make any sense.

It goes against programmes that encourage young people to take public transport, detractors say.

Opponents also question whether 16-year-olds are sufficiently mature to be piloting vehicles that can be lethal weapons if driven irresponsibly.

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DRIVING

Where should you take your car for service and repairs in Switzerland?

If you own a vehicle, sooner or later you will need to have some work done on it. But it is important to know who in Switzerland can provide the best service.

Published: 29 August 2023 15:57 CEST
Where should you take your car for service and repairs in Switzerland?

There is certainly no shortage of garages or auto mechanics in this country, who are ready and willing to work on your car.

In all, there are 16,232 garages across Switzerland, most of them located in the Zurich area, with Bern in the second place. 

However, regardless of where in Switzerland you happen to live, chances are there is a car mechanic in your area.

That’s a good thing, of course, but a mechanic — no matter how skilled — may not be able to do all the repairs you need.

Garages versus dealerships

A lot depends on what exactly ails your vehicle.

If you need regular maintenance or service — which usually includes checking the brakes, suspension, steering, exhaust, oil, fluids, and lights, as well as performing an overall safety check — then any reputable garage can do the job.

Also, if you have been involved in an accident and need body work (on your car, not yourself), then a garage that has a bodywork shop will be a good fit.

Can you have your car repaired or serviced at a different garage from the one where you bought it?

According to Comparis consumer platform, “you are free to choose any garage. Minor repairs in particular, such as changing a windscreen wiper or buffing out a scratch, can basically be done anywhere.”

The only exception would be if your auto insurance excludes free choice of garage. and you must use only ones that your provider works with. 

(This is as good a time as any to remind you that car insurance is obligatory in Switzerland).

READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about car insurance in Switzerland

However, there are times when you should not take your vehicle to just any garage, opting instead for the authorised dealer of your car’s brand, or its partner garages — especially when the car is still under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Why is this important?

 “Our partners undergo specialised training provided by the importer and hold licenses as mandated by the manufacturer,” Lucas Alvarez, a spokesperson for Hyundai Switzerland, told The Local.

“This meticulous preparation ensures that any warranty-related work can only be executed by these authorised partners,” he added.

This is valid for all manufacturers, regardless of the brand.

If you are not sure where these manufacturer-approved garages are in your area, go on the manufacturer’s Swiss website and contact their customer support team.

How long do these repairs take?

They could take a while, and not only because this is Switzerland.

The timeframe depends on what needs to be done, but prepare to be patient.

The pandemic had disrupted production cycles, with manufacturers having cut back orders for spare parts. There are also fewer automotive parts from Ukraine-based suppliers.

“It is unfortunately still the case that electronic parts require a certain delivery time and are also partly on backorder, so it may well be that it takes several months to receive certain parts,” Alvarez said. “Like most car manufacturers, we are dependent on the respective suppliers.
 

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