Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

DRIVING

Where in Switzerland is the worst for drink-driving?

The number of road accidents in Switzerland linked to drinking alcohol and driving has reached a new record high, according to new figures. But where in the country has the highest number of incidents and fatalities?

Published: 21 December 2023 10:13 CET
A person drives
You may need help when preparing to drive in Switzerland. Photo by why kei on Unsplash

The number of drink-driving accidents in Switzerland has reached a record level and the number of times driving licences are confiscated due to alcohol related driving offences has also reached a new high.

The number of road accidents in which alcohol was the chief cause rose by 19 percent in Switzerland in 2022 compared to the previous year, according to figures from Touring Club Suisse (TCS).

In all there were 4,558 incidents linked to drink-driving in 2022 compared to 3,815 in 2021. 

Some 10 percent of these accidents, around 430, resulted in car passengers or the drivers either being left severely injured or killed.

The figures  will worry authorities because they show the number of incidents having steadily risen since 2016 – if the two years during the Covid pandemic (2020, 2021) are ignored. 

For the past six years, the French-speaking canton of Geneva has been holding on tight to its dubious record as the place in Switzerland for most car accidents caused by drink driving.

On average there 1.04 serious alcohol-fuelled accidents per 10,000 inhabitants occur in Geneva yearly. 

The second is Schaffhausen with 0.95 serious accidents per 10,000 inhabitants, followed by Nidwalden (0.91), Ticino (0.80), and Obwalden (0.78).

In Schaffhausen, the proportion has almost quadrupled compared to 2021 (0.24); and in Ticino, the number of serious accidents also increased significantly compared to the previous year (0.51).

But it was the canton of Vaud which saw the most deadly accidents caused by drink-driving with six people killed in 2022. Across the whole country there were 25 fatalities caused by drink driving.

Only the Swiss cantons of Jura, Zug, Zurich and Uri saw the number of serious accidents linked to alcohol decline.

Swiss police have been active in trying to tackle drink driving.

In 2022 some 13,043 drivers had their licence confiscated for the offence, compared to  1,591 the previous year.

With Christmas approaching the TCS are warnign drivers about the dangers of getting behind the wheel even after drinking a little alcohol. The ability to reactions and pay attention when driving are hampered even after a couple of glasses.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.
For members

DRIVING

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

While you’re likely to encounter some of the most spectacular scenery as you drive through Switzerland, you may also experience an eye-watering fine if you’re unaware of the tolls that may apply. 

Published: 14 May 2024 09:50 CEST
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.

SHOW COMMENTS