Since 1 January 2021, zip merging and the rescue lane have been required by law in Switzerland. Both rules help keep traffic flowing and let emergency services through.
Zip merging (the zipper system)
Where a lane ends – e.g. from three to two lanes, at roadworks or accidents – zip merging applies:
Drive on your own lane right up to the bottleneck. Changing too early blocks traffic needlessly.
At the bottleneck, vehicles merge alternately – one from the right, one from the left.
Vehicles on the continuing lane must let one merging vehicle in each.
Important: the merging driver remains obliged to give way – they have *no right* to a gap and must not force their way in. In stop-and-go traffic, zip merging now also applies at motorway on-ramps. Refusing to let someone in risks a fixed-penalty fine (CHF 100).
Rescue lane
On motorways and semi-motorways with at least two lanes per direction you must form a rescue lane in stop-and-go traffic or a jam:
The lane is formed between the leftmost lane and the lane immediately to its right.
Vehicles therefore move to the left or right and leave a free corridor in the middle.
The lane is formed as soon as traffic slows down – not only when the emergency vehicles arrive.
Blocking the rescue lane is also fined.
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