Swiss Theory F cheat sheet

Legal speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on expressways (Autostrasse), 120 km/h on motorways (Autobahn); limits may be lowered by sign.

General priority rule: at junctions without signs or signals, the vehicle coming from the right has right-of-way (rechts vor links); exceptions are marked by signs, signals, or exit from minor roads such as field or parking paths.

Turning left: the driver must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right, and to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road being entered.

Rail crossings: give way to rail vehicles; at a crossing without barriers, stop if a train approaches; do not enter if the exit side is blocked.

Blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per mille for ordinary drivers; for learner drivers and professional drivers (category C/D, passenger transport) the limit is 0.1 per mille, effectively zero tolerance.

Pedestrian crossings (Fussgängerstreifen): pedestrians have priority once they indicate crossing or are already on the strip; overtaking is prohibited on the approach to a crossing.

Emergency vehicles with blue lights and siren have absolute priority; other road users must clear the way, stop if necessary, and must not follow directly behind.

Signalling: indicate before changing lane, turning, or overtaking; on roundabouts indicate before exiting, and indicate left only when changing to an inner lane.

Danger signs are triangular with a red border on a white background; regulatory signs are round, red-bordered for prohibitions and blue for mandatory instructions.

Priority signs: a yellow diamond means priority road; a yellow diamond with a black diagonal bar ends the priority road; a red-bordered triangle pointing down with a small cross means yield.

The octagonal red STOP sign requires a complete stop at the stop line, regardless of whether traffic is visible.

White continuous lines may not be crossed; broken white lines may be crossed for overtaking or lane changes when safe; yellow markings indicate temporary roadworks or special lanes.

Blue square signs with a white symbol indicate mandatory direction, cycle path, or pedestrian zone; a blue circle with a white arrow is a mandatory direction sign.

Parking: a blue P sign permits parking, a P with a red diagonal bar prohibits stopping, and a no-stopping sign (blue circle with red border and one diagonal) prohibits stopping on the carriageway side shown.

Speed limit signs are round with a red border and black number; a grey diagonal bar or the end-of-limit sign cancels the restriction.

Direction signs: green for motorways, blue for main roads, white for local destinations; place-name signs in black on white mark the beginning of a built-up area and its 50 km/h limit.

Periodic inspection (MFK) is required for all motor vehicles; new cars are inspected after 5 years, then every 3 years, and from the 10th year every 2 years.

Minimum tyre tread depth is 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread; winter tyres are recommended but not legally mandatory, though they are required when conditions demand them for safe driving.

Lighting: dipped headlights must be used at night and in poor visibility; daytime running lights alone are insufficient in tunnels or rain, where dipped beams are required.

Brake system: a dual-circuit hydraulic brake with ABS is standard; the parking brake must hold the vehicle on a gradient; brake fluid is typically replaced every 2 years.

Emissions: vehicles with a catalytic converter must use unleaded fuel; the exhaust must meet the Swiss exhaust gas test (Abgaswartung) at inspection.

Load and dimensions: maximum width 2.55 m, maximum height 4 m, maximum length 12 m for rigid vehicles; loads must be secured and not obscure lights or plates.

Tyres must match the vehicle's registration document in size and load/speed rating; mixing radial and cross-ply tyres on the same axle is prohibited.

Warning triangle, first-aid kit, and reflective vest are mandatory equipment; the vest must be within reach of the driver's seat.

Safe following distance: the two-second rule applies in dry conditions; double it in rain and triple it on snow or ice.

Reaction distance = speed (m/s) × reaction time (about 1 s); braking distance increases with the square of speed, so doubling speed quadruples braking distance.

Blind spot: check over the shoulder before changing lanes; mirrors alone leave a zone beside the rear quarter of the vehicle uncovered.

Fatigue: after about 2 hours of continuous driving, attention drops measurably; a 15-minute break with fresh air is the minimum effective countermeasure.

Alcohol, drugs, and some medicines (e.g. sedating antihistamines, benzodiazepines) impair reaction time; driving under their influence is punishable even below the legal alcohol limit if fitness to drive is impaired.

Hazard perception: scan far ahead, look for brake lights several vehicles ahead, and anticipate pedestrians stepping out from between parked cars.

Overtaking: never overtake at pedestrian crossings, on blind crests, at rail crossings, or where visibility is insufficient; return to the right lane only when the overtaken vehicle is fully visible in the mirror.

Motorway driving: enter via the acceleration lane at traffic speed, keep right except when overtaking, and form a rescue lane (Rettungsgasse) between the leftmost and next lane when traffic slows.

At a roundabout without signs, vehicles already in the roundabout have priority; entering vehicles yield. Signs may modify this, so check the yield sign at the entry.

Left-turn conflict: a vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning right; this applies at signed and unsigned junctions alike.

Tram priority: trams have priority over other road users; do not block tram tracks and give way to a tram pulling away from a stop.

Narrow road: on mountain roads the descending vehicle yields to the ascending vehicle unless a passing place is closer to the descending vehicle; on other narrow roads the vehicle with the obstacle on its side yields.

Cyclists: maintain at least 1.5 m lateral distance when overtaking outside built-up areas and 1 m inside; cyclists may use the full lane when necessary.

Bus pulling out from a stop in a built-up area has priority; drivers must allow it to rejoin traffic.

Junction with a stop line and no other signs: the stop line indicates a yield obligation; without a stop line and without signs, right-before-left applies.

Turning across a cycle path or pedestrian crossing: yield to cyclists and pedestrians continuing straight; do not cut the corner.

Emergency numbers in Switzerland: 144 for ambulance, 117 for police, 118 for fire; 112 also works from mobile phones.

Primary survey: check responsiveness, breathing, and circulation; if unresponsive and not breathing normally, start CPR immediately at 100–120 compressions per minute, 5–6 cm deep.

Recovery position: for an unconscious but breathing casualty, place on the side to keep the airway open; monitor breathing until help arrives.

Severe bleeding: apply direct pressure with a clean dressing; use a tourniquet only if direct pressure fails and note the time applied.

Burns: cool with lukewarm water for 10–20 minutes, do not remove clothing stuck to the burn, and do not apply ointments.

Suspected spinal injury: do not move the casualty unless there is immediate danger (fire, traffic); keep the head aligned and wait for professional help.

Shock signs: pale, cold, clammy skin, rapid weak pulse, confusion; lay the casualty flat, keep warm, and do not give food or drink.

Accident scene: secure the site first (warning triangle, hazard lights, vest), then give first aid, then call emergency services; do not put yourself in danger.

Breakdown on the motorway: switch on hazard lights, move to the hard shoulder or emergency bay, exit on the passenger side, and place the warning triangle at least 100 m behind the vehicle (50 m on other roads).

Warning triangle placement: on a straight road about 50 m behind the vehicle; on a motorway 100–150 m; on a blind bend place it before the bend so it is visible to approaching traffic.

Reflective vest must be put on before leaving the vehicle; it is mandatory equipment and must be within reach of the driver.

After a collision with personal injury: stop, secure the scene, give first aid, call 144 and 117; leaving the scene of an accident with injuries is a criminal offence.

Property damage only: exchange names, addresses, insurance details, and licence plate numbers; complete an accident report (constat amiable) signed by both parties.

If the other party is absent, leave your details and report the accident to the police within 24 hours; failure to report can be prosecuted as hit-and-run.

Breakdown kit: warning triangle, first-aid kit, reflective vest, torch, and jump leads; check the spare tyre or repair kit and jack before long trips.

Towing: on motorways towing by private rope is prohibited; use a professional recovery service, and switch on hazard lights while being towed.