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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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The roads and tunnels in Switzerland where drivers need to pay a toll

Here is where you’ll need to be fully paid-up while driving through the alpine nation – and where further charges can apply.

Mandatory motorway vignettes

Suppose you’re planning on driving on any of the country’s motorways or expressways (those designated on maps and signs with an A followed by a number). In that case, you’ll need to pay 40 CHF for a vignette each year – either displayed as a sticker on your car or tied electronically to your car’s licence plate.

If you get caught without one—cameras are everywhere—you may be fined 200 CHF for each infraction.

Thankfully, the Swiss make it very easy to obtain a vignette.

They can be purchased at border crossings, post offices and petrol stations. You can also buy the e-vignette online here – Swiss authorities have warned motorists to avoid purchasing it from other sources, which add a markup.

READ MORE: What you need to know about Switzerland’s motorway vignette

Tolls for tunnels

While a motorway vignette will be enough to drive around most of Switzerland, there are exceptions where you’ll need to pay extra.

The first is the Munt la Schera Tunnel which connects the Engadin valley in the canton of Graubünden with the Lago di Livigno reservoir that borders Italy.

Initially constructed to move building materials, the three-and-a-half-kilometre tunnel is still privately owned by a local power company, so it is permitted to charge an extra toll.

Fees vary depending on your kind of vehicle, whether you’re making a return journey, and the time of year—the current price schedule is available here. The toll is paid at either side of the tunnel.

As a single-lane tunnel, the direction of travel alternates every fifteen minutes, so drivers can expect a short wait.

Cyclists are not permitted to use the tunnel, although there are shuttle buses that can transport bikes.

READ MORE: The new laws drivers in Switzerland need to know.

Two rail tunnels offer a car transport service for an additional fee.

The first is the twenty-kilometre Simplon tunnel between Brig in the canton of Valais and Domodossola in Italy.

The second is the fourteen-kilometre Lötschberg tunnel between Kandersteg in the canton of Bern and Goppenstein in the canton of Valais.

Each journey takes about twenty minutes, and tickets can be purchased for the Simplon tunnel here and the Lötschberg tunnel here.

The final toll tunnel—and arguably the most famous one—is the Grand-Saint-Bernard tunnel, which charges a toll and connects Martigny in the canton of Valais with the Aosta valley in Italy.

Consisting of two lanes, the tunnel stretches six kilometres through the Alps.

Much like the Munt la Schera tunnel, there is a schedule of fees, and the kind of vehicle determines prices, as well as whether you intend to return via the tunnel. Again, the toll can be paid at either entrance.

Despite some recent media speculation, the Swiss Federal Council has opposed the idea of introducing further tolls on the Gotthard and San Bernardino tunnels. Instead, other strategies are currently being explored to combat the ongoing problem of traffic congestion.

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