Highway entry guide: Can you continue driving on difficult roads?

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This has probably happened to everyone: when entering the highway, you accelerate in the acceleration lane – but there is no gap! And now? Will you brake and wait for the next gap, or will you continue with the hard shoulder?

The most important principle: Anyone who wants to enter the highway from the entrance, like all lane changers, never has the right of way. You’re not allowed to put on your indicators and pull over – you have to wait for a gap. On the highway, cars don’t need to turn left to make room. Doing this is thoughtful, but it shouldn’t cause you to slow others down.

Full throttle allowed here

Also important: The entrance acceleration lane is named that way for a reason. Here you can and should press the gas all the way if necessary. The aim is to first catch up with the speed of the vehicles in the right lane on the highway, and then change lanes. Anyone who does this too early or too slowly will cause sudden emergency braking on the highway, endanger traffic and become one of the most annoying drivers.

Just don’t stop

But what if you’re fast enough but still out of space? In no case should you stop at the end of the acceleration lane! Instead, in this case, it is exceptionally permitted to continue driving on the hard shoulder for a short time until merging. However, the time spent on the hard shoulder should be as short as possible. Although you are allowed to pass on the right all the way to the end of the extended double line, you are definitely not allowed to do so on the hard shoulder (like the driver in the video).

A hard shoulder is less dangerous than standing still for two reasons: Anyone having to accelerate from a standstill to highway speed is dangerously slow. Second, drivers following behind do not wait for someone to stop at the end of the acceleration lane; especially since they are really stepping up.

Exit is not input

So: In exceptional cases, when entering the motorway, you can, if necessary, proceed for a short distance on the hard shoulder until a space opens up for you.

However, the opposite is not true. For example, in traffic jams, it is forbidden to move onto hard shoulders before exiting the highway. This is considered overtaking on the right and can even be punished by revoking the licence.

By the way: Since January 1, 2021, the zipper method has become mandatory in traffic jams and slow traffic on driveways. This means that at the end of the driveway you need to alternately go right-left-right. Those who do not create a gap will be fined 100 francs. But pushing in front of blockers is still shown.

Source: Blick