Effective 1 January 2023.
https://www.worldradio.ch/news/bites…ws-make-a-zip/
I agree with the motorway should have the same rule provided the merging traffic is doing the ambient speed. I’m not going to let in an idiot doing 80 when I’m at 100.
They have been doing this for at least 40 years to my knowledge and probably a lot longer, and it was simply courteous driving behaviour. They did not need a law for it as far as I know.
The attitude by so many Swiss is "I'm in the right lane, why should I give way to anyone". In fact that applies to most of their thinking.
Are they idiots too for merging sometimes well below the 120kmh limit?
What's worse is people in the lane that is going to be cut off stopping dead a long way from where the lane ends and waiting to move into to the other lane rather than going to the end of the lane and merging there.
I think a lot of people do this because they don't want to be thought of as 'selfish' because the 'open' lane might be moving slowly and they don't want to pass them (or they fear being 'stuck' at the end of the lane where it is closed) But of course the effect is to back up traffic behind them when it would be better to use all the road.
A good law, that I doubt will be enforced very often.
I thought this was already a year ago?
The issue is especially in town if you make the "mistake" of not preselecting your lane 2 km ahead and then need to merge, no one will let you in! This causes huge lines with other empty lanes....
Speed is irrelevant, it’s the difference in speed that is important.
I am usually looking ahead at upcoming entrances and if I see merging traffic, and I’m able to safely, I move to the left. I will adjust my speed for vehicles that cannot accelerate to 100 km/h easily. But not for somebody too stupid to put their foot down on the ramp.
I believe such idiots are the leading cause of motorway accidents. Not necessarily involving them, but others trying to avoid them. 2nd leading cause are the idiots that slow down, while still on the motorway, before their exit.
They likely are the same idiots.
My only complain about highways in Switzerland are painfully slow motorhomes or a 4 cylinder non-turbo car trying to pull a caravan. But, it's cold and these days they stays at home, so happy driving
I drive ~15K km a year and I haven't seen an accident in a while in Swiss highways, like 2 years or so. I guess it's not that bad.
The most efficient use of roads is for vehicles to use their entire lane, go as far as they can go, and then merge. It seems counter-intuitive but it’s what works best.
I’d install temporary cameras at such points. And multilingual signs stating that merging is obligatory.
I'd agree for many Swiss drivers. Around here with half or more of the commuters on French plates, indeed one needs this. Common courtesy is not part of their vocabulary.
Sorry, I forgot to start the first sentence with "In Germany".
That's mainly cars with Dutch, Belgian or French plates on !!
So in sum, Switzerland needs this law for all the German, French, Belgium, Dutch cars on Swiss roads, but not for the Swiss cars.
Being Dutch, unfortunately I have to confirm this.
I don't fully agree. If the traffic is merging (say 2 to 1 lanes) then there is a maximum throughput in the 1 lane and if last minute merges disrupt the flow (average speed) then it is less efficient.
What it would do is shorten the tail back overall plus stop road rage of compliant drivers seeing people cruising past and muscling in at the last minute.
I couldn’t say this better myself.
...and of course, no need to signal at all.
Even earlier. It came into force in 2021. LINK
A quick google for the Blick article cited didn’t bring up much either.
Recycled clickbait news?
Reading the title, my hand flew to my crotch.