If you move to another country, get to know the traffic rules...

Complaints Corner
41
While it's nice, it's unpredictable, uncertain and therefore potentially dangerous. When someone starts doing something contrary to the rules and/or intuitiveness of the road layout it can lead to confusion. Do I go, do I not go, ok this guy says I can go but the other guy is not stopping etc etc. It's nice to be nice but it's safer to be predictable.

42
Since you need to know: I am talking about Seestrasse - the long mainroad along lake Zurich which was the main traffic route before the Autobahn was built. The case yesterday was in Kilchberg. It goes straight, has a 60km limit even within villages as even the local Gemeinde (which normally LOVES to set up speed limits accompanied by speed trap cameras...) considers it a main road and has a pedestrian crossing ever 50-100 meter or so. All of them with an island. I get that this island also helps pedestrians to feel safer, but really: If they were only about safety was the law not to consider the crossing as two individual ones... it is on this case clearly with the purpose to keep traffic flowing. That's also why none of those crossings are equipped with a light - that's the most safe option.

Once again for the tree huggers:

- I am not at all against stopping for pedestrians. I had to cross the very same street this morning and three cars simply ignored me standing there and pushed on. Made me angry, but was not as dangerous as the case yesterday.

- I am for sticking to the rules. They are there for a reason and if we all follow them will it be the most safe solution. Braking unpredictably is neither considerate nor safe. It's simply idiotic.

P.S: I do not drive an Audi or BMW... but indeed a good quality car with even better brakes. And they were worth every cent I paid for them yesterday.

43
A 'good' driver can control how others around him drive.

There are many ways to do this which you don't appear to appreciate.

44

The force is unfortunately not very strong with me, otherwise I had dealt with the driver differently...

45
In reality how it works ...

Use one's instinct, common sense and engage one's brain because every situation can be different.

When you see sombody who is letargic on beautiful spring day leaving the tram and one doesn't even bother to look at the traffic running thru pedestrian cross, you remain cautious, slow down and better stop.

If you see the child or elderly citizen approaching the crossing, you most likely stop because you know that they may have either limited concentration or impaired reaction. Same applies to drunks crossing the road

If there is nobody on the crossing and the zone clear, you most likely will go ahead.

When you close to highly populated areas like Zurich near the lake where crowds cross the road, you have to keep head-on-spring and approach the area very slowly. You also keep in mind that if you come with a speed, the cars behind you may not manage to brake down in time. Therefore, an experienced driver takes into considaration almost everything one can and try to predict scenarios beforehand. Accidents still happen because we cannot fully eliminate and predict every situation 100%.

Analogy to tennis. Like Nadal the other day said. Tennis is not an easy game, if it was so easy everyone would be playing it and winning. Every shot is different. They may all look the same from repetitiveness prospective but in reality they are all different. Spin, timing, footwork, temperature, pressure, uneven surface, humidity, wind and etc are factors that change the ball's trajectory in the game.

Same analogy applies to driving, although many situations seem to be looking almost the same but yet they are subtly different. Follow the rules and remain cautious. That's the least you can do.

46
That's the least you can do perhaps. Others do a lot more to help others and still remain safe.

Many, many times drivers here have slowed to allow me with my family to cross a busy road where there is no controlled crossing whilst out hiking.

Of course they don't slam on their brakes and cause accidents. They tend to be the ones who leave a greater distance between themselves and the car in front so they can ease off the accelerator in a more controlled and timely fashion and brake in a more controlled manner so the vehicle behind themselves can also slow in a controlled manner.

If you tailgate, you're hardly going to be able to stop for anyone.

47
What a typical expat thread. Have you all lost your common sense? Pedestrians have more rights than anything with wheels. And right so.

Roll-stop and kids who want to cross? No, definitely not. Bring your car to a complete stop, make eye contact with the pedestrian, wave the hand in order to clearly give a signal so they can walk the crossing.

This is the typical Swiss way.

48
Expat thread on expats forum. You found a perfect match Mr Duplicate.

49
such as a green arrow does not indicate that you have the righ of way and the opposing traffic might also have green. In most parts of the world green arrow means proceed because you have the right of way.

50
Black and red surely? With the black direction having the priority.

51
If you want to enjoy "jungle driving", come to Geneva! Perhaps because drivers come from all over the world, they each have their "interesting" interpretation of the Swiss highway code!

The bigger and the fancier the car, the more reckless the driver seems to be.

When I let a pedestrian cross the road, a driver go first etc. you should see the expression on their face: "Are you out of your mind? You're supposed to try and kill me!"

The ultimate is when you thank someone with a wave of the hand...they think you're British Royalty!

52
Such as?

53

54
so what does that tell us about speed limits?

or no parking signs?

or the sign at the border saying I need to get an Autobahn Vignette?

I'd like to see you explain that one to a policeman.

55

Finally found what bigfujitsu is probably refering to....

Regulatory signage used during temporary closing/restricting of a route, path, or road.

A luminious panel with either a green arrow, a yellow one, or a red cross as appropriate.

"Manual suisse des règles de circulation".

Signalisation Routière, Section 2 (Signaux de prescription) sub-section 2.65.

56
George in a few years time... spoilt little brat.

57
a stop sign has a unique shape so that you can also see it is a stop sign from the back side. same for the yield sign.

58
nice way of describing a Japanese car

59
Island on a zebra crossing being 2 separate crossings has been in the UK highway code since before I was born.

60

Except they would be called "pedestrian crossings" in the U.K. highway code!