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Reader question: Does the new EU automatic speed limit apply to Switzerland?

From July 6th, an EU rule requiring cars to install automatic braking technology when they cross the speed limit will come into force. What does this mean for cars in Switzerland?

Published: 1 July 2022 16:47 CEST
A speedometer. Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash
A speedometer. Photo by CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash

The rule will only apply to new cars sold on or after the deadline, i.e. cars will not need to be retrofitted with the technology. 

What is an intelligent speed assistance system (ISA)?

Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2019/2144, all cars sold in the EU must be equipped with an intelligent speed assistance system (ISA). 

This is a technology that automatically slows down cars breaking the speed limit. 

READ MORE: The roads and dates to avoid driving in Switzerland this summer

It uses GPS and speed cameras to determine whether a car is exceeding the speed limit in that area, and then prompts the driver to slow down before gently pushing back on the acceleration pedal and automatically reducing engine propulsion.

From July 2022, all new car models sold in the EU will have to have this technology installed. From 2024, even older car models being sold will have to have to be equipped.

From July 6th cars will also be required to have a black box which records a range of driving parameters like speed, acceleration or braking phases, wearing (or not) of a seat belt, indicator use, the force of the collision or engine speed, in case of accidents.

This information will be available to the police only in the event of an accident and will not be accessible by insurance companies. It will also not be available to the police for the purpose of checking speeding fines. 

What about cars in Switzerland? 

The rules will also apply in Switzerland. 

While Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is a party to several agreements which mean certain EU regulations apply here as well. 

This means that all cars sold in Switzerland after July 6th will need to comply. 

Why is the rule coming into place? 

The major reason is road safety. 

READ MORE: What is Switzerland’s ‘traffic calendar’ and how can it help me save time?

In Switzerland, along with several other EU countries, speeding is the most common cause of accidents. 

The rule hopes to reduce accidents by 20 percent. 

While many modern cars already have this technology on board, this will be the first time it is mandated. 

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DRIVING

The new law Swiss drivers in Germany need to know about

If you are caught speeding on German roads after May 1st, you will no longer be able to ignore your fine once you are back in Switzerland.

Published: 30 April 2024 13:19 CEST
The new law Swiss drivers in Germany need to know about

Until now, fines that German drivers got in countries outside the EU (including Switzerland) were not enforceable.

By the same token, motorists from Switzerland could get out of paying penalties for traffic infractions committed in Germany.

But this will no longer be the case from May 1st.

A new agreement between Bern and Berlin will allow their respective police to enforce traffic violations committed on each other’s territory.

What exactly will change on May 1st?

To put it simply, from this day on you will be required to pay any traffic-related fines you receive while in Germany.

This relates not just to speeding infractions, but also to parking fines.

However, the new regulation applies only if the fine imposed exceeds 70 euros or 80 francs. 

In such a case, German police will send the fine over to their Swiss counterparts, who will then forward it you for payment.

As a reminder, similar agreements already exist with Switzerland’s other neighbours.

Pay you must

If you think you can toss your foreign ticket away once you are safely back home in neutral Switzerland, and stay under the radar — figuratively speaking — you may be in for a rude awakening.

“Traffic fines issued abroad should always be paid, otherwise the issuing authority may take measures against the vehicle owner, even if they live in Switzerland,” the Federal Office of Police (Fedpol) says on its website.

“Measures can include an entry in a search database, a ban on entering the country in future, or high reminder fees. If you return to the country concerned having failed to pay the fine, your car may be confiscated until the fine has been paid. You may even be subject to imprisonment for one or more days.”

READ ALSO: What happens if I don’t pay my Swiss bills on time?
 

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