Close Menu
    Is it illegal to "drive unnecessarily" in certain public roads?
    Switzerland

    Is it illegal to “drive unnecessarily” in certain public roads?


    A few days ago, I received this article in my Android feed: https://www.20min.ch/story/erlinsbach-ag-17-jaehriger-faehrt-viermal-ueber-passstrasse-billett-weg-103162761

    The article is mostly pretty normal, about how the Aargauer police set up a camera in a mountain pass and some drivers were exceeding the limit and got fines etc..

    But one point, that is also mentioned in the title, is very new and surprising to me: They mentioned that a moped(?) rider passed 4 times though the same spot in a couple of hours, and that it is illegal to do so.

    Here is one sentence from the article: "At the same time, the cantonal police turned their attention to those who drove on the pass road unnecessarily several times".

    Now my question is, how do I determine the road I am passing through is an "only when necessary" road? Admittedly I have never driven through a mountain pass, but if it has one of those red "Driving ban" signs, then passing even once is illegal, right?

    Thanks a lot.

    P.S. Regarding noise, I already know that using your horn unnecessarily is not ok, and I would be very cautious using my horn in mountainous areas anyways.

    Is it illegal to "drive unnecessarily" in certain public roads?
    byu/ihatebeinganonymous inSwitzerland



    Posted by ihatebeinganonymous

    View 5 Comments

    5 Comments

    1. KapitaenKnoblauch on

      I also wondered about this but I intuitively came to the conclusion that this is not an actual law but probably a rule of thumb that police can interpret at will. If you race over a mountain pass multiple times without a purpose they can probably use it against you. But if you drive there slow and easy no one will care.

      I think this is a case for /u/SchoggiToeff

    2. Mausbiber on

      https://www.fedlex.admin.ch/eli/cc/1962/1364_1409_1420/de#art_33

      Fahrzeugführer, Mitfahrende und Hilfspersonen dürfen, namentlich in Wohn- und Erholungsgebieten und nachts, keinen vermeidbaren Lärm erzeugen. Untersagt sind vor allem:

      a.
      andauerndes, unsachgemässes Benützen des Anlassers und unnötiges Vorwärmen und Laufenlassen des Motors stillstehender Fahrzeuge;
      b.
      hohe Drehzahlen des Motors im Leerlauf, beim Fahren in niedrigen Gängen;
      c.
      zu schnelles Beschleunigen des Fahrzeugs, namentlich beim Anfahren;
      d.
      fortgesetztes unnötiges Herumfahren in Ortschaften;
      e.
      zu schnelles Fahren, namentlich mit metallbereiften Fahrzeugen, beim Mitführen von unbefestigten Ladungen und von Anhängern, beim Befahren von Kurven und Steigungen;
      f.
      unsorgfältiges Beladen und Entladen von Fahrzeugen sowie Mitführen von Kannen und ähnlichen lärmerzeugenden Ladungen ohne Befestigung oder Zwischenlagen;
      g.
      Zuschlagen von WagentĂĽren, Motorhauben, Kofferdeckeln und dgl.;
      h.
      Störungen durch Radioapparate und andere Tonwiedergabegeräte, die im Fahrzeug eingebaut sind oder mitgeführt werden.

    3. Internal_Leke on

      Art 33:l, road traffic regulations:

      Drivers, passengers and assistants must not generate any avoidable noise, particularly in residential and recreational areas and at night. The following are particularly prohibited:

      a.continuous, improper use of the starter motor and unnecessary preheating and running of the engine of stationary vehicles;

      b.high engine speeds when idling, when driving in low gears;

      c.accelerating the vehicle too quickly, especially when starting off;

      d.continued unnecessary driving around towns;

      e.driving too fast, in particular with metal-tyred vehicles, when carrying unsecured loads and trailers, when negotiating curves and gradients;

      f.careless loading and unloading of vehicles and carrying cans and similar noise-producing loads without securing or intermediate layers;

      G.Slamming car doors, bonnets, trunk lids, etc.;

      h.Interference from radios and other sound reproduction devices installed in or carried in the vehicle.

    4. ay-papy on

      It has been a while since i’ve made my license.
      I still fondly remember that this was mentioned there.

      In theory, this could happen to you as well if you drive 3-4 times around the same block looking for a parking spot. It usually doesnt get enforced in that situation but could be enforced if they like to.

      I think it got added primary to be able to stop people who like to drive the same way several times in order to show their cars in public.

      This guy had bad luck for real.

    5. inetphantom on

      > Das Strassenverkehrsrecht verlangt, dass Fahrerinnen und Fahrer von Motorfahrzeugen jede vermeidbare Lärmbelästigung unterlassen. Untersagt sind zum Beispiel hohe Drehzahlen des Motors im Leerlauf, oder beim Fahren in niedrigen Gängen wie auch zu schnelles Beschleunigen beim Anfahren. Auch fortgesetztes, unnötiges Herumfahren in Ortschaften ist untersagt. Wer mit seinem Fahrzeug unnötigen Lärm erzeugt, kann verzeigt werden.

      https://www.astra.admin.ch/astra/de/home/themen/fahrzeuge-emissionen/laermvorschriften.html