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WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in February 2024

From the motorway sticker deadline to the nationwide alarm system test, here are the changes to know about in Switzerland in February 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in February 2024
This is what February looks like in Switzerland. Photo: Kipras Streimikis on Unsplash

February 1st: 2024 car sticker

On this day, the grace period for not having the 2024 vignette (either the paper pr digital version) is coming to an end.

If you are caught driving without it on a Swiss motorway, you could be fined 200 francs.

The 40-franc sticker, which can be purchased from petrol stations, post offices, border crossings, or online, is obligatory for all vehicles driving on Swiss motorways, regardless of whether you are a resident, tourist, or are just transiting through the country.

This map shows on which roads the vignette is compulsory.

Paper and electronic versions. Photo: Federal Office For Customs and Border Security

READ ALSO: What you need to know about Switzerland’s motorway charge sticker

February 1st: You will know where your bread comes from

New law that enters into force on February 1st mandates that the origin of all baked goods must be declared in writing in all Swiss bakeries, supermarkets, and restaurants.

February 7th: Nationwide alarm system to be tested

The 5,000 fixed and 2,200 mobile sirens in Switzerland will be tested on February 7th, as they are every year on the first Wednesday of February.

The test will be conducted between 1:30 pm and 4 pm.

Communication channels on the Alertswiss app will also be tested.

The signal – a steady oscillating siren lasting one minute – is intended to alert the population of an impending emergency or disaster. 

The second siren, used to warn people who live near dams of impending water-related danger, is a series of 12 bursts of 20 seconds each at ten-second intervals.

READ ALSO: Switzerland’s annual siren test

February 14th: Ash Wednesday

This day will mark not only the Valentine’s Day, but also the beginning of Lent, which starts with Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday, which this year falls on March 31st.

February 20th: Out of the darkness…light! (Though you my not even notice it)

On this day, daylight speeds up to three minutes per day, according to the Almanac, a very useful annual calendar that contains astronomical data and tide tables, among other information. 

“On the 20th, the day length is 10 hours, 53 minutes, and on the 21st, it’s 10 hours, 56 minutes,” it says.

This means that dark early mornings and dark early evenings are on the way out.

Hopefully, spring in on its way in.

Early mornings will no longer look like this. Photo: Pixabay
 

Throughout the month: Ski holidays

Like every year, February is traditional “family ski” month in Switzerland, when children get a week off from school (except in canton Lucerne where they will be off for two weeks), so families can head to mountain resorts.

Dates of this winter holidays vary among cantons; you can see the ones for your region here

Skiers face higher prices in some Swiss ski resorts. 

However, about half of Switzerland’s main resorts — including Zermatt, Verbier, and Crans-Montana, among others — are banking on the so-called ‘dynamic’ price model, which will allow you to purchase cheaper tickets. 

This means the price of the ski pass is not fixed, but depends on when you buy the ticket and when you plan to use it.

READ ALSO: Why do some Swiss ski resorts change their prices several times a day?

February 29th: A leap year

This event, which happens only every four years, is not a strictly Swiss phenomenon, of course.

But this is a reminder to let you know that in 2024, this month will be longer by one day!

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For members

WHAT CHANGES IN SWITZERLAND

Everything that changes in Switzerland in July 2024

From price hikes to disrupted train travel, this is what you can expect in Switzerland in July 2024.

Everything that changes in Switzerland in July 2024

July is a traditional holiday month in Switzerland and much of the country comes to a standstill (the same way as Italy and France do in August).

The government is also on a break, so political life slows down as well.

Additionally, a number of offices work on a reduced schedule, so it may seem that nothing at all happens in the country this month, but in fact quite a few changes, and other events, are underway:

July 1st: Legal definition of ‘rape’ is changed

The new criminal law on sexual matters, to go into force on July 1st, will introduce a new definition of sexual violence: ‘No is no.’

This is a reform of a longstanding legislation, which has a much narrower definition of what constitutes rape.

For instance, current law requires that penetration takes place and that victim shows resistance for the act to qualify as sexual violence.

Under the new rule, however, participants need to agree in words or clearly demonstrate they want to engage in sexual activity.

If this condition is not fulfilled, the act will be considered as taking place against the person’s wishes, and thus be a criminal offence.

Also, to be considered as sexual assault, the actual penetration no longer needs to occur.

July 1st: Price of Swiss milk to go up

You will have to pay 3 cents more for a litre of milk — an increase which is meant to bring some financial relief to Swiss dairy farmers.

But only the milk intended for drinking will become more expensive; the product which is used for cheese production will not be impacted by the price hike. 

July 1st: Cost of certain medications will increase

Swiss consumers pay significantly more for their medicines than those in neighbouring European countries. 

From July 1st,  inexpensive medicines whose factory price is less than, or equal to, 15 francs, will become more expensive. 

This change will affect more than half of medications currently being sold in Switzerland.

As a result of this move, “additional costs of several hundred million will be passed on to patients,” according to Intergenrika, which represents generic drug manufacturers in Switzerland. 

In a nutshell, consumers will pay slightly lower prices for medicines that were previously more expensive, but will also end up paying more  for those that are currently cheaper – like generics.

July 1st: SBB will change public announcements concerning suicides on train tracks

About 112 people throw themselves under moving trains each year in Switzerland.

When that happens, and the train stops midway, the public system announcement over loud speakers in the train and at all stations impacted by the delay, cites “personal accident” as a reason for the disruption.

Everyone knows, however, that this is a code word for suicide, and such announcements upset commuters.

For this reason, Swiss national rail company, SBB,  said that from July 1st, “personal accident” will be replaced by a more neutral “event linked to an external cause” — which will cover all disruptions, and not just suicides. 

July 7th: Assistance system in cars

Some safety-relevant assistants will soon be mandatory in Swiss cars.

In line with the EU, every newly registered vehicle in Switzerland must have certain systems from July 7th, 2024. However, there is no obligation to retrofit older vehicles.

For example, an emergency braking assistant must now be installed. This constantly monitors what is happening in front of the vehicle and automatically initiates emergency braking if an obstacle is detected. This can either avoid a collision altogether or at least reduce its severity.

In the future, cars will also support the person at the wheel when reversing. Warning sounds and/or reversing cameras should make obstacles or people behind the vehicle quickly recognisable.

More price hikes: Swisscom’s new ‘package’ to become more expensive

From July 24th, Switzerland’s largest telecom will abandon its inOne Home package, which includes the telephone, Internet and television.
It will be replaced by a new service called Basic Home. But as it offers a high speed internet of 50 Mbps instead of the current 10 Mbps, the cost of the subscription will be higher as well: it will increase from 50 francs a month right now to 59.90 francs.  

The transition to the new package will be done automatically, so anyone who doesn’t want to pay higher subscription price should notify Swisscom as soon as possible.

July travel news: international trains are likely to be unreliable

If you’re planning to go abroad by train this summer, arm yourself with patience.

The reason is the abundance of construction sites across Europe, which slow down, or disrupt altogether, the train schedule.

In Switzerland, railroad maintenance work is carried out at night in order not to disturb the daytime timetable. Some neighbouring countries, however, “have decided to completely close train lines for the duration of the works”, Swiss media reports.

As a result, train travel to and from Switzerland will be chaotic amid the summer holiday rush.

You can see were in Europe train travel will be disrupted the most:

READ ALSO: Why you should not rely on trains to and from Switzerland this summer 

Also:

Culture!

There are plenty of festivals, concerts and other events taking place all over Switzerland in July.

You can see them here:

READ ALSO: 7 unmissable events in Switzerland this July

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