Safe riding in traffic and behaviour toward other road users
This domain covers how you share the road: lane position, distance, and the specific rules that protect pedestrians, cyclists, trams, buses and trucks. Swiss items often turn on a legal duty - a bus leaving a stop, a pedestrian at a yellow crossing, the lateral gap when overtaking a cyclist.
Position in the lane
Ride where you can be seen and where you have an escape, usually the rider's side of the lane centre, moving away from oncoming traffic on bends but never hiding behind the vehicle ahead. Do not travel alongside another vehicle inside its blind spot. Filtering between two lanes of moving traffic is not provided for in Swiss traffic rules and can be penalised; in a jam, wait in line.
Specific road users
- Pedestrians: stop at yellow crossings for anyone waiting or crossing, expect children, elderly people and phone users to step out, and when turning give way to pedestrians crossing the road you enter.
- Cyclists: keep at least 1.5 m when overtaking outside built-up areas, roughly 1 m inside them.
- Trams: rails are slippery, the vehicle swings wide, and passengers step out - never squeeze past.
- Trucks and buses: large blind spots and a right-turn swing; do not linger beside the cab. In built-up areas a bus signalling to leave a stop has priority.
- Horses and farm vehicles: slow right down, no revving, no horn.
Passengers and groups
A pillion needs a proper seat, footrests, a helmet and the ability to hold on; children must reach the footrests. The passenger counts toward permitted weight. Groups ride staggered, never side by side, each rider keeping their own gap.
Worked example
A bus indicates to leave its stop in town as you approach. Reasoning: built-up area, bus signalling - you must let it out. Ease off, cover the brakes, and expect passengers to cross in front of the bus where you cannot see them.
Traps
Treating an indicator as a promise; passing a tram stopped at a stop; using the horn to assert priority; tailgating a truck to shelter from wind; riding two abreast in a group.