Stopping
Voluntary stopping
A stop – in Switzerland specifically a voluntary stop – of a vehicle in road traffic is a stop with the vehicle that is not necessary due to the traffic flow.
A necessary stop would be, for example, stopping in a queue, stopping at a red light, stopping in a traffic jam, etc….
The driver who wants to stop must, if possible, take the following vehicles into consideration.
Stopping at public transport stops
Stopping closer than 10 m in front of and behind public transport stops, as well as in front of fire stations and fire extinguishing equipment magazines, is only permitted for the purpose of letting people on and off the vehicle; public transport and the fire brigade must not be obstructed. At public transport stops, any stopping on the adjacent pavement is prohibited.
“Zigzag lines” indicate stops for buses on regular public transport services. At such stops, drivers may only stop to let people on and off, provided that buses on regular public transport services are not obstructed
Stopping for loading and unloading
Stopping for the transfer of goods next to vehicles parked along the roadside is only permitted if traffic is not obstructed. Parked vehicles must be allowed to leave immediately on request.
If vehicles for goods handling cannot stop outside the road or away from traffic, obstruction of other road users shall be avoided as far as possible and the loading activity shall be completed without delay.
If a vehicle has to stop for goods handling where it could endanger traffic, e.g. on a winding mountain road, breakdown signals or warning posts must be set up.
Stop in front of pedestrian crossing – No stopping line
No-stopping lines” placed at the edge of the road prohibit voluntary stopping at the marked spot.
Voluntary stopping is prohibited on and to the side of pedestrian crossings and, where there is no no-stopping line, closer than 5 m to the pedestrian crossing on the carriageway and the adjacent pavement.
You may only stop in front of pedestrian crossings to allow pedestrians to cross. Otherwise, stopping or parking in front of or on pedestrian crossings is generally prohibited.
Signal “No stopping”
The “No stopping” signal prohibits voluntary stopping.
If the “No stopping” signal is located at the edge of the carriageway, it also applies to the adjacent pavement.
Temporary exceptions to the stopping or parking prohibition are indicated on the attached additional sign “Exceptions to the stopping prohibition”.
Stopping to get in and out
Road users must not be endangered by getting in or out of the vehicle; when opening the doors, particular attention must be paid to traffic coming from behind (cyclists).
Stopping in tunnels
Drivers may only stop in tunnels in case of emergency. The engine shall be switched off immediately
Stopping before signals
Voluntary stopping is prohibited in front of signals if they would be obscured.
Stopping on level crossings and subways
Voluntary stopping is prohibited on level crossings and in subways.
Stopping where traffic is obstructed
Vehicles must not be stopped or positioned where they could obstruct or endanger traffic. Where possible, they must be parked in parking spaces
Brusque braking / stopping
Brusque braking and stopping is only permitted when no vehicle is following and in an emergency.
Stopping in columns
When traffic is slowing down, the driver must not stop on pedestrian crossings and, in the case of road junctions, must not stop on the carriageway for cross traffic.
Stopping at the roadside
Drivers must stop off the road wherever possible. On the carriageway they shall stop only on the verge and parallel to it.
Stopping on the left-hand side of the road
Stopping on the left side of the road is prohibited. Exceptions:
– if there is a tram track on the right;
– if a stopping or parking ban is signalled or marked on the right;
– in narrow streets with light traffic;
– in one-way streets
Stopping at blind spots
Voluntary stopping is prohibited at blind spots, especially around bends and crests.
Voluntary stopping is prohibited in bottlenecks and next to obstacles in the carriageway.
Stopping on single-track sections
Voluntary stopping is prohibited on single-track sections, as well as next to safety lines, uninterrupted longitudinal lines and double lines, unless a passage of at least 3 m width remains free.
Stopping at intersections
Voluntary stopping is prohibited on road junctions and before and after road junctions closer than 5 m from the cross carriageway.
