Sunday driving in switzerland

UK PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS FORUMS EURO DRIVING FORUM (INTERACTIVE)
1

could anybody confirm… :confused:

is it true that you can take a van and trailer upto 5 tonne train weight and still be exempt from the sunday and evening driving ban, in switzerland… :slight_smile: any info on this area would be greatly appreciated…

2

twisterboy:
could anybody confirm… :confused:

is it true that you can take a van and trailer upto 5 tonne train weight and still be exempt from the sunday and evening driving ban, in switzerland… :slight_smile: any info on this area would be greatly appreciated…

Hi twisterboy, I’d say that the short answer to your question is NO, because the 5t you mentioned appears to relate to artics.
In all good conscience, I can’t translate this to your advantage, sorry mate. :frowning:
:open_mouth: This apears to have been worded quite carefully. :frowning:

Here’s what the ÖAMTC (Austrian version of our AA/RAC) says about your question. [Don’t ask :grimacing:]
ORIGINAL ÖAMTC SOURCE MATERIAL HERE

The ÖAMTC website:
SCHWEIZ
Fahrverbot
Lkw über 3, 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht, Sattelkfz über 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht und Fahrzeuge mit einem Anhänger von mehr als 3,5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht

Zeit
an Sonntagen und an allgemeinen gesetzlichen Feiertagen in der Zeit von 00:00 -24:00 Uhr

Feiertage

  1. Januar, 9. April (Karfreitag), 12. April (Ostermontag), 20. Mai (Christi Himmelfahrt), 31. Mai (Pfingstmontag), 1. August, 25. und 26. Dezember. Der 26.12. gilt in den Kantonen Geneve, Jura, Neuchätel, Valais und Vaud nicht als Feiertag; in den Kantonen Fribourg, Nidwalden, Obwalden und Zug ist er kein gesetzlicher Feiertag; Geschäfte, Unternehmen und Behörden sind weitgehend geschlossen.

Strecken
auf dem gesamten schweizerischen Straßennetz

Ausnahmen
In dringenden Sonderfällen können über das
J Bundesamt für Straßen, Bereich Straßen,
Worblentalstraße 68,
3063 Ittigen,
Te!.: 0041/31 - 3234311/15/16, Fax: 0041/31 -3234300/21, Ausnahmegenehmigungensowohl für das Sonntagsfahrverbot als auch für das Nachtfahrverbot beantragt werden.

Gefahrguttransporte
Für die Durchfahrt bestimmter schweizerischer Straßentunnel Beschränkungen für den Transport von gefährlichen Gütern.

Nachtfahrverbote
Lkw über 3, 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht, Sattelkfz. über 5t zul. Gesamtgewicht und Fahrzeuge mit einem Anhänger von mehr als 3,5 tzul. Gesamtgewicht

Zeit
ganzjährig in den Nachtstunden zwischen 22:00 Uhr und 05:00 Uhr

Strecken
auf dem gesamten schweizerischen Straßennetz

Here is my own translation ( :wink: Look mum, no google. :grimacing:)

SCHWEIZ
Fahrverbot
Lkw über 3, 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht, Sattelkfz über 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht und
Fahrzeuge mit einem Anhänger von mehr als 3,5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht

SWITZERLAND
Driving ban
Trucks greater than 3.5t authorised GVW, artics greater than 5t authorised GVW and vehicles with trailers of greater than 3.5t authorised GVW

Zeit
an Sonntagen und an allgemeinen gesetzlichen Feiertagen in der Zeit von 00:00 -24:00 Uhr
Time
On Sundays and all statutory Bank Holidays during the hours of midnight to midnight [on those days.]

Feiertage

  1. Januar, 9. April (Karfreitag), 12. April (Ostermontag), 20. Mai (Christi Himmelfahrt), 31. Mai (Pfingstmontag), 1. August, 25. und 26. Dezember.
    Bank Holidays
    The dates given are the dates of Bank Holidays in Switzerland.
    (The words in brackets are the names each of the Bank Holidays in German.)

Der 26.12. gilt in den Kantonen Geneve, Jura, Neuchätel, Valais und Vaud nicht als Feiertag; in den Kantonen Fribourg, Nidwalden, Obwalden und Zug ist er kein gesetzlicher Feiertag; Geschäfte, Unternehmen und Behörden sind weitgehend geschlossen.
Boxing Day (26th Dec) doesn’t count as a Statutory Bank Holiday in [named Cantons] but businesses and ‘official’ offices are mostly closed.

Strecken
auf dem gesamten schweizerischen Straßennetz
[Affected] Stretches [of roads]
The whole of the Swiss road network

Ausnahmen
In dringenden Sonderfällen können über das
J Bundesamt für Straßen, Bereich Straßen,
Worblentalstraße 68,
3063 Ittigen,
Te!.: 0041/31 - 3234311/15/16, Fax: 0041/31 -3234300/21, Ausnahmegenehmigungensowohl für das Sonntagsfahrverbot als auch für das Nachtfahrverbot beantragt werden.
Exemptions
In urgent / exceptional cases, exemption permits can be applied for / obtained from [address and tel. number given] for the Sunday and / or night time driving bans.

Gefahrguttransporte
Für die Durchfahrt bestimmter schweizerischer Straßentunnel Beschränkungen für den Transport von gefährlichen Gütern.
The transport of dangerous goods
There are restrictions on the carriage of dangerous goods through certain Swiss road tunnels.

Nachtfahrverbote
Lkw über 3, 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht, Sattelkfz über 5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht und
Fahrzeuge mit einem Anhänger von mehr als 3,5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht
Night-time driving ban
Trucks greater than 3.5t authorised GVW, artics greater than 5t authorised GVW and vehicles with trailers of greater than 3.5t authorised GVW

Zeit
ganzjährig in den Nachtstunden zwischen 22:00 Uhr und 05:00 Uhr
Time
All year-round during the night hours of 10pm - 5am

Strecken
auf dem gesamten schweizerischen Straßennetz
[Affected] Stretches [of roads]
The whole of the Swiss road network

I hope this helps. :smiley:

3

The above transaltion is correct

4

Vascoingles:
The above transaltion is correct

Cheers for that mate. :smiley:

There’s another one a bit bigger if you’d like to take a look HERE

5

thanks that that dave!

what made me think was i got sent this by a friend who reckons he got it of a business link site, and it says “roadtrain”.
but i did’nt know if this was the official line or someones interpretation.

heres the quote that was sent to me…

Most of the usual methods of transportation are available for getting goods to Switzerland, although it should be borne in mind that it is a landlocked country. There are international airports at Zurich, Geneva and Basel. Anyone considering taking their goods to Switzerland themselves by road should be aware that there are restrictions not only on the height, width and weight of freight vehicles but also on the times they may actually be on the road. Heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes and articulated vehicles and road trains exceeding 5 tonnes cannot be driven at anytime on Sundays or Public Holidays or at night (generally between 22.00 and 05.00 hrs). There is also an annual tax levied on heavy goods vehicles using Swiss roads, with a separate additional charge for trailers. Further information may be obtained from:
Eidg. Zollverwaltung
Oberzolldirektion
Monbijoustrasse 40
CH - 3003 Berne

6

twisterboy:
what made me think was i got sent this by a friend who reckons he got it of a business link site, and it says “roadtrain”.
but i did’nt know if this was the official line or someones interpretation.

Hi twisterboy, I’m afraid that any translation is a question of interpretation, since a translator might also be an interpreter if live speech is involved.

Here are a few relevant German words and my own take on them:
(I’ve done some sentence chopping for the purpose of explanation. :grimacing:)

From above: “Fahrzeuge mit einem Anhänger von mehr als 3,5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht.”
Fahrzeug = a general word for ‘vehicle.’ (Fahrzeuge = vehicles.)
“mit einem Anhänger” = with a trailer
Anhänger = any type of pulled trailer (drawbar, “A” frame or 50mm ball coupling.)
“von mehr als 3,5t” = of more than 3.5t (Germans use commas where we use a decimal :confused: ) = of more than 3.5t
“zul. Gesamtgewicht” (Fully written = Zulässiges Gesamtgewicht) = authorised GVW
Zulässiges Gesamtgewicht (or Zul. Ges.gew.) is the GVW, in your vehicle V5 log book. ( V5 = Zulassungschein.)
LKW (fully written = Lastkraftwagen) = a general word for a ‘truck’ [usually an LGV]
LKW und Anhänger = Truck and trailer, which could be translated as “roadtrain.”
Hängerzug yet another German word for ‘truck and trailer’
Zug has more than one meaning, but is ‘train’ in this case.
Sattel Kfz. (fully written = Sattelkraftfahrzeug) = Articulated vehicle, or ‘artic’ for short.
The semi-trailer pulled/carried by an artic is ‘Auflieger’ in German.
Sattelzug = yet another German word for ‘artic.’
Sattelschlepper = tractor unit.

twisterboy:
heres the quote that was sent to me…

Most of the usual methods of transportation are available for getting goods to Switzerland, although it should be borne in mind that it is a landlocked country. There are international airports at Zurich, Geneva and Basel. Anyone considering taking their goods to Switzerland themselves by road should be aware that there are restrictions not only on the height, width and weight of freight vehicles but also on the times they may actually be on the road. Heavy goods vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes and articulated vehicles and road trains exceeding 5 tonnes cannot be driven at anytime on Sundays or Public Holidays or at night (generally between 22.00 and 05.00 hrs). There is also an annual tax levied on heavy goods vehicles using Swiss roads, with a separate additional charge for trailers. Further information may be obtained from:
Eidg. Zollverwaltung
Oberzolldirektion
Monbijoustrasse 40
CH - 3003 Berne

Now I can understand how you came to think that you could drive with a van and trailer if you’re less than 5t GVW.

Here is what Mr wikipedia has to say:
LINK TO ORIGINAL SOURCE
(Click ‘Schweiz’ from the list when you land on the page.)

In wikipedia is:
Schweiz
In der Schweiz gilt ein Fahrverbot an Sonntagen und Feiertagen für Lkw über 3,5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht von 0 bis 24 Uhr, sowie LKW-Sattelzüge mit einem zul. Gesamtgewicht von mehr als 5 t im gesamten Straßennetz. Ferner gilt auch für LKW über 3,5 t ein Nachtfahrverbot in der Zeit von 22 bis 5 Uhr. Zusätzlich gibt es ein Fahrverbot während der Ferienzeit von Anfang Juli bis Ende August. Ausnahmen gibt es vom Bundesamt für Polizeiwesen oder durch den Kanton, in den die Einfahrt erfolgt, der dann die Ausnahmegenehmigungen erteilen kann.

Schweiz Switzerland

In der Schweiz gilt ein Fahrverbot an Sonntagen und Feiertagen für Lkw über 3,5 t zul. Gesamtgewicht von 0 bis 24 Uhr, sowie LKW-Sattelzüge mit einem zul. Gesamtgewicht von mehr als 5 t im gesamten Straßennetz.
In Switzerland, there is a driving ban on Sundays and Bank Holidays for trucks greater than 3.5t authorised GVW and artics with an authorised GVW greater than 5t valid from midnight to midnight on the whole of the Swiss road network.

Ferner gilt auch für LKW über 3,5 t ein Nachtfahrverbot in der Zeit von 22 bis 5 Uhr.
Furthermore, there is also a night time driving ban valid for trucks greater than 3.5t during the hours of 10pm until 5am.

Zusätzlich gibt es ein Fahrverbot während der Ferienzeit von Anfang Juli bis Ende August.
Additionally, there is a driving ban [for such vehicles] during the holiday period from the start of July until the end of August.

Ausnahmen gibt es vom Bundesamt für Polizeiwesen oder durch den Kanton, in den die Einfahrt erfolgt, der dann die Ausnahmegenehmigungen erteilen kann.
Exemptions can be obtained from the Federal Police Office, or through the Kanton from where your journey starts, who are authorised to issue exemtion permits.
[This includes the Kanton through whose border you enter Switzerland.]

By either source, it looks like you’re snookered for both bans mate. :frowning:

You’d be OK if you could do the trip without the trailer, if the van is less than 3.5t though. Just a thought. :grimacing:

The only slim ray of hope that you might have is to argue that your vehicle is a Lieferwagen (van,) but I still think that they’ve got you with the word Fahrzeug, because IMHO that would be taken to include a Lieferwagen.

[EDIT] Simon, I’ve made a compilation of my two posts on this topic and placed them on the “Sticky” Euro drivers’ info point HERE, so the info isn’t lost when it slides down the forum. :grimacing:
I hope it can then help others. :smiley:

7

dieseldave:

Vascoingles:
The above transaltion is correct

Cheers for that mate. :smiley:

There’s another one a bit bigger if you’d like to take a look HERE

I had seen that one before I must admit your German is quite impressive, mine unfortunately has got a bit rusty :unamused: . Ilived there for 8 years and was married to a German for 11 but that is all quite a while ago now.

8

Vascoingles:

dieseldave:

Vascoingles:
The above transaltion is correct

Cheers for that mate. :smiley:

There’s another one a bit bigger if you’d like to take a look HERE

I had seen that one before I must admit your German is quite impressive, mine unfortunately has got a bit rusty :unamused: . Ilived there for 8 years and was married to a German for 11 but that is all quite a while ago now.

Hi Vascoingles, Thanks again mate, I try my best. :grimacing:
German is my only foreign language at a decent standard, but I never lived there. :frowning:
I also have some (very) limited Italian, cos I worked there for just over a year and was married to a half-Italian for just over 25 years, but I never studied Italian properly. As you said, that was some time ago- same here!!

I did German at school, and then at the tender age of 41 went to college, and the following year I did the first year of a degree-equivalent course.
IMHO, my German is too technical and a bit lacking in everyday ‘speak’ but it’s fine for translating law and ‘official’ stuff for that very reason. :smiley:

9

try looking at this linkHERE
WHICH IS FROM THE --EURO POSTS LINKS;; and is is english as well as many other languages

click on to site map and scrol down to ADVICE
it will then say
RESTRICTIONS IN SWITZERLAND

and info is there as to where permits can be
applied for as and when required

10

oops

11

ROG:
oops

12

once again thanks for all the info posted about this topic…

its looking like i’ll have to take a 7.5 tonner after all… :unamused:

13

Hello does any one know the hight limit in swiss as i pull a fridge and we never transit swiss as he says we are to high any help please

14

Dava:
Hello does any one know the hight limit in swiss as i pull a fridge and we never transit swiss as he says we are to high any help please

Most deferably 4.0 metres. Many Fridges run at 4.1 because of the extra insulation and there are a lot of 3.8m routes in Swiss too. If you cannot run Swiss, you can jump on the Rollendelandstrasse (Hupac)

15

ok well it looks like i am to high for swiss as my trailer is a twin vap fridge and i think they are 4.2 meter as im not at work at the mo i will measure up when im back thanks for the info

16

Dava:
ok well it looks like i am to high for swiss as my trailer is a twin vap fridge and i think they are 4.2 meter as im not at work at the mo i will measure up when im back thanks for the info

You’ll have trouble in a lot of Euroland at 4.2, even oversize try to keep it below 4.15m, which is what the Dutch put down as a limit.

17

im ok in holland as i can get under the dutch marked bridges of 4.00 meters but i do know what they are like in switzerlad for being over hight stop you before the gothard then then let you carry on with your juorney.

18

Dava:
im ok in holland as i can get under the dutch marked bridges of 4.00 meters but i do know what they are like in Switzerland for being over hight stop you before the gothard then then let you carry on with your juorney.

I used to drive a 4.15 m truck and there were plenty of Bridges in Holland that were signed 4m and I had to drop my air to get under them, admittedly they were mainly on side roads but there were a few on major routes so we avoided them.
We used to always run Swiss with these trucks as well, but now it is almost impossible as most of the borders have very sensitive height sensors as I have found out to my cost :blush:

19

Dava:
Hello does any one know the hight limit in swiss as i pull a fridge and we never transit swiss as he says we are to high any help please

Hi Dava, I’d say the vehicle height limit for Switzerland is 4.0m.

Here’s the :arrow_right: SOURCE

20

allikat:

Dava:
ok well it looks like i am to high for swiss as my trailer is a twin vap fridge and i think they are 4.2 meter as im not at work at the mo i will measure up when im back thanks for the info

You’ll have trouble in a lot of Euroland at 4.2, even oversize try to keep it below 4.15m, which is what the Dutch put down as a limit.

Hi allikat, do you have a source for that info please?

I’m asking because according to :arrow_right: THIS, the NL height limit is 4.0m.