After some research, we decided having a car in Switzerland would be best to keep Maya safe and get us everywhere we needed to go in a timely manner. Here’s what you need to know about driving and getting around Switzerland, and sadly, I had to learn a lesson or two the hard way.
But first, a little about me and my driving style. I’ve driven hundreds of thousands of miles in my life. Remember back in our teens and early twenties when money was more precious resource than time? Well, my friends and I were adventurous and ambitious with our small savings amounts and would get in our cars and drive! I’ve driven on every mile of I-90 from downtown Boston to downtown Seattle. I’ve been on every mile of I-80 from New York to San Francisco and I-70 from Baltimore to Western Utah. Not all at one time, but many different stretches either east or west, most often originating from either Chicago (where I grew up) or Denver (Current Residence). I never saw the adventure in the drive, but always just the cost of admission to get to the adventure in whatever city, mountain range, wilderness area or National Park I was travelling to. Now remember that I am a numbers guy, so I'm constantly calculating how far we have to go and how much quicker we could get there if I could just go a few miles per hour faster. These are the things that you can't help but think about halfway through a 14-hour drive while cruising the middle of Nebraska. I can’t turn off the analytical part of my brain that is constantly trying to find the fastest way from A to B during traffic, at sunrise, and when there is weather. I don’t think I know better than Google or Waze, but sadly turning my brain off is not possible, even when it would be beneficial to simply relax. So that's the lens I'm bringing to this post.
Take it Slow- Now if you are anything like me, you’re going to have to make a conscious decision
to take it easy over there. Easier said than done. Nothing is actually very far anyway. Even at an extra 10km/hour, you’re only going to shave like 6 mins and 18 seconds on a drive from Zurich to Luzerne. Unless that 6 minutes and 18 seconds is worth about 500 francs, then best to just put the cruise on 100km/hour and enjoy the sites. SWITZERLAND HAS SPEED CAMERAS EVERYWHERE!!! Knowledge that would’ve been worth, well about 500 francs, had I known this before we hit the road. I think it took all of 25 minutes for me to see the flash of the dreaded speed camera and realize what I'd just done. SMH. I will update when the fine comes in, but my research tells me that I am not going to like the cost of the ticket when it arrives, and my license to drive in Switzerland may have been over before it even began!
Driving as a secondary method of Transportation- Remember that you are in a country that seemingly does not value the automobile like other nations. While in Zurich I saw a group of kids walking through the downtown train station with their skies slung over one shoulder and their boots slung over the other. I’m thinking, “these kids have got it made!” They work all week in the city, and step on a train in their ski gear and the train drops them off right at the base of the ski hill. It has become such a burden with traffic to drive from Denver to Summit County, that most people I know refuse to do it unless they get a room the night before a planned ski day, directly on or next to the mountain. These kids in Zurich just grab their gear, a delicious espresso, and head to the mountains via train with hundreds of others. Their public transportation system is incredible and will take you just about anywhere you could possibly want to go. Now with a 5-month-old baby, the convenience of a car is critical. I can’t imagine the time and stress we saved by not narrowly missing our train, because Maya got hungry! Without an infant, and when we return, I’d be surprised if we rent a car at all. With so many traveling via public methods, parking can be a challenge, especially in some of the small mountain towns. We nearly left Grindelwald without getting out of the car. There is a total of like 240(ish) parking spots in the whole town. We had to stalk a parking lot and wait over an hour for someone grab their car and leave, so we could take their parking space. Grindlewald was potentially the highlight of the entire trip for me, so it would’ve been devastating if we weren’t able to get out and look around awhile. The less you can rely on your car to get you places, the better. The landscapes are so beautiful, that you will not want to be distracted by things like keeping your family safe by being attentive to the road!
Same sides and lanes as the US! - Shifting a manual transmission with my left hand while driving in the left lane in England took quite a few days to get used to. That poor transmission and clutch! Switzerland has the same driving parameters as the US, in that you drive on the left side of the car and the right lane of the road. So no biggie there, unless you're from the UK, and in which case, I hope you're used to adapting.
Roads are designed for all sorts of transportation- It seemed to me like every road in Switzerland was designed for trains, buses, cars, pedestrians, cyclists, pushcarts, and I’m sure I am missing something. Be mindful of all types of vehicles while making a left turn through an intersection. Pedestrians have the right of way always! Look out for crosswalks and intersections that people walk through, especially in bigger cities.
Roundabouts- They are only weird until you realize that this is far more efficient that traffic lights. Simply stated, the vehicle in the circle has the right of way. Look left and wait for a chance to enter the circle (Roundabout). After you are in the roundabout you have the right of way for wherever you choose to exit the roundabout. Missed your exit? No worries! Just go around the circle again and take your desired exit!
Resource: Detailed Rules of the Road
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