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DRIVING

Bottlenecks and delays: Which Swiss cities have the worst traffic?

Switzerland may not be known for bad traffic, but there are some frustrating congestion points which can see people lose dozens of hours a year. Here's where it gets the worst.

The Hardbrücke in the city of Zurich. Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash
The Hardbrücke in the city of Zurich. Photo by Claudio Schwarz on Unsplash

TomTom GPS has unveiled its annual statistics for the most congested cities in the world.  

The findings cover 404 cities across 58 countries and focus on which urban areas suffer from the most congestion. 

READ MORE: Which Swiss canton has the worst drivers?

Where are Switzerland’s cities placed?

Fortunately, Switzerland again ranked relatively low from a global perspective, with no Swiss city in the top 70 internationally. 

The findings show that Geneva is the 75th worst city globally in terms of traffic jams, but first in Switzerland.

Drivers in the western Swiss city lose 69 hours each year stuck in bottlenecks.

Zurich follows closely in the 77th place and Lugano in the 93rd.

This TomTom chart shows the congestion level as well as time lost in traffic in Switzerland’s six major cities.

Geneva, Zurich and Lugano are in the second worst category globally, while Lausanne, Basel and Bern are in the third worst. 

Tom Tom uses navigation technology to see where people are moving and how fast, thereby giving an indication as to how much time is spent in traffic. 

While Geneva drivers may have lost the most time on the whole, the highest congestion was seen in Lugano, where a 75 percent rate was hit in the middle of summer 2021. 

Things could be set to get slower in Switzerland, with several Swiss cities planning to cap speed limits at 30km/h

What are the world’s worst cities and regions for traffic?

The worst city in the world for traffic is the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, which has an average congestion level of 62 percent. 

This is followed by Moscow, Kiev, Bogota and Mumbai. 

EXPLAINED: How does roadside assistance work in Switzerland?

There are three Russian cities in the top ten, with Moscow second, St Petersburg seventh and Novosibirsk ninth. 

There are two Ukrainian cities – Kiev (third) and Odessa (sixth) – and two Indian cities, Mumbai (fifth) and Bengaluru (tenth). 

Western European cities do not feature highly in the list, with Dublin (35th), Palermo (36th) and Paris 37th). 

More information about the ranking can be seen here

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FUEL

Why are fuel prices on the rise in Switzerland?

You have probably noticed that filling up your vehicle has become a tad more expensive recently — more so in some Swiss regions than in others.

Why are fuel prices on the rise in Switzerland?

After falling during the winter months, petrol prices  in Switzerland are climbing again.

Swiss motorists currently have to pay, on average, 1.90 francs for a litre of unleaded 95 gasoline.

In some regions, however, the price is even higher.

Just as an example, at 2.29 and 2.37 francs per litre, respectively, two petrol stations along the Gotthard motorway in Airolo and Piotta in Ticino are among the most expensive in the country.

Why is there such price disparity?

Several factors are at play.

“The price at the pump is influenced by criteria such as the location of the station (city or countryside, motorway, border area, isolated regions), the rent of the land where it is located, the salary level in the region in question, and the costs to transport the fuel to this station,” according to Touring Club Suisse (TCS) motoring organisation. 

Prices are usually the highest on (or close to) motorways, in or near large cities, and at branded chain stations. You can find better deals at smaller, independent stations away from main roads.

Why have petrol prices increased after dropping at the end of 2023?

There are several reasons for the hike:

Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine

World politics affects the price of gasoline.

In addition to the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than two years, the conflict between Israel and Gaza, which began in October 2023, has exacerbated the petrol situation.

In this geopolitical context, the price of oil had exceeded 90 US dollars at the beginning of April for a barrel (159 litres).

Fewer oil exports

The reduction in oil exports has certainly has had an effect on fuel prices at the pump.

As an example, very recently Mexico stopped exporting large quantities of oil, with significant consequences for the global market. 

The franc is weakening

After the Swiss National Bank had cut its key interest rate from 1.75 to 1.50 percent in March, the franc has weakened against the euro and the US dollar.

Remember: while weaker franc is good for the export industry, it is less so for goods coming from abroad — as is the case with gasoline.

Higher cost of freight on the Rhine 

Petrol is brought into Switzerland mainly by cargo ships.

But shipping via this particular route becomes more expensive in summer — when the bulk of transport takes place —because the water level drops.

What’s ahead in terms of gasoline prices?

According to a recent analysis by the Swiss company Moveri, which manages BP, Ruedi Rüssel, and Miniprix service stations in Switzerland, the current price of shipping petrol via the Rhine is 16 francs. 

In 2023, these prices rose to 80 francs during the river’s lowest level.

Based on this data, the price of gasoline at pumps in Switzerland will likely increase further in the coming months.

Where in Switzerland can you get cheaper fuel?

Looking for bargains — or, in this case, least expensive pumps — is a good idea.

Autoclub memberships often offer discounts on petrol. ACS members and TCS members can save between two and five cents per litre. 

Larger petrol retailers will also often have discount deals, while Swiss supermarkets also offer deals with particular gas station chains. 

Prices are usually the highest on (or close to) motorways, in or near large cities, and at branded chain stations. You can find better deals at smaller, independent stations away from main roads.

However, you should avoid going too far out of your way to save on fuel.  

“A one-cent difference on the price of the litre justifies a detour of  two to three kilometres, at most. Otherwise, the excess consumption drowns the savings on a 50-litre tank”, according to TCS

This is a useful website listing cheaper petrol options throughout Switzerland. 

READ ALSO: Where in Switzerland can drivers find the cheapest fuel?

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