do NOT speed in switzerland

Camelot · Sep 3, 2013

ross said: ↑

you may have heard about the strict swiss laws on speeding, but you need to know just how bad it can get..... my case is specific to people living here, but it can be applied in a lesser format to non-residents as well.

last year i was out in the f40 on a lonely secondary road on a beautiful sunny august afternoon. i was the only car on the road for miles, until i came upon a bmw z3 out for a leisurely drive. the speed limit at that point was 80km/h, and the bmw was doing about 65. the road was winding so my opportunity to pass him was fleeting. i gunned it, the turbos spooled up, and i got shot out of the cannon. i passed him, and then slowed back down in time to enter the next village about 1 km down the road at 50km/h. however, at the highest speed moment of my pass, i was flashed by a speed camera (think they planned that positioning?) doing 130km/h. those of you have driven an f40 know that when you press the accelerator nothing happens for a moment, and then it lights up - and you cannot simply slam on the brakes right after you pass somebody either. very unfortunately for me, the cops were on the spot (as opposed to contacting me later), and stopped me. i had forgotten to bring my uk driver's license (this car has british plates and spends part of the year there), and had to show them my swiss license. the big problem became that extra 1km/h making the infringement 50km/h over the limit.

keep in mind that i have had my swiss license for nearly 30 years. i have never had a speeding ticket, or anything to affect my license in that entire time.

long story short, 9 months later, between legal fees and the fine, i have paid more than $10k, and have lost my license for a period of 4 months. my lawyer is a friend of mine that i go tracking with (porsche gt3) and knows the system or it would have been far worse. i am cognizant of my infraction, and am not complaining about the penalty - taking it in stride. but posting it here as a warning to all those who like to drive in europe.

the lesson here is that if you are thinking of doing some kind of 'top gear' trek through switzerland's best roads etc, dont bother. the swiss have become completely obsessed with speed infractions. luckily for me, my infringement was last year because this year the laws have become even more strict; the fines have doubled, they are still indexed to income but moreso, and now they hand out minimum required jail sentences. imagine that in the canton of valais, the penalties for speeding are greater than for drunk driving - who thought that brilliant idea up? in bern last month, a cop was flashed by a speed camera while in pursuit of another car - the result was the policeman was fined and almost had his license revoked. he explained the situation and was rebuffed - now the chief of police said they will no longer pursue wrong doers past speed cameras. they are even debating whether or not to fine ambulances.....somewhere somebody has lost his mind.

so once again, do NOT bother travelling by car in switzerland unless you plan to stay below the speed limit at all times, including passing (in other words traffic is going to be heavy since you cannot get up enough speed to pass somebody going slightly slower than the limit).
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Wow never know this. I drove pass by Switzerland from Italy few years back and luckily our group didn't encounter this. We didn't drive crazily fast only arround 120-150 km/h.
Thanks ross for sharing...it's a pity because Switzerland has a very nice sceenery.

Flash G · Sep 3, 2013

WilyB said: ↑

Radar detector detector - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Never knew this. I always thought they were "receivers" only, detecting a signal. Never knew that they emitted one.

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do NOT speed in switzerland

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Flash G Three Time F1 World Champ
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do NOT speed in switzerland

Camelot Formula Junior

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