Too little distance so brutally expensive

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Anyone keeping the correct distance while driving will be fined. Not by the police, but by other leaders. Anyone with a two-second gap at rush hour on the A1 will mow down a close tail from behind and, above all, a large number of cars that change lanes and enter the correct gap ahead of you.

The difference is felt to be large even at 1.5 seconds. It’s deadly, because a very small distance is almost normal, but it can cost thousands of francs and your driver’s license. Distance measurements in Switzerland are rare compared to other countries. Also as there is no fixed penalty for that. But every single case goes to court, which is always expensive.

How much distance is enough?

The Traffic Rules Regulation remains unclear, but guideline values ​​have been established, for example, through court orders. Internal guidelines vary from canton to canton, but the general rule is: “Half speedometer meter” or over 1.8 seconds is legal; this would be, for example, at 120 km/h from about 60 metres.

Less than 1.8 seconds usually costs a few hundred francs (for example, the GR guide value is 400 francs) plus in lighter cases costs and more if the distance is less. It respawns in under 0.6 seconds. Example of the cantons of Zurich and Graubünden: ten-day speed at 11 to 15 percent of the speed in meters (13 to 18 m at 120 km/h). With a sample net salary of 5000 francs per month, the daily wage is rounded up to 120 francs (calculator here). Thus the fine would be 1,200 francs. Plus, of course, court costs, which are at least (!) a few hundred francs.

Fine over one month’s salary

In the ZH/GR example, the next step is the 20-day rate, ie 2400 francs for a 5000 franc net fee. At a distance of only five percent (120 km/h at 6 m!), daily rates are 45 in Zurich and 50 in Graubünden. In the example, that’s 5,400 or 6,000 francs! Plus fees each. It may be cheaper or suspended depending on the canton and court, circumstances or reputation, but above all it may be significantly more expensive. Not to mention the extreme cases where there are even more glaring undershots.

What about the license? This also varies greatly. Minor offenses (usually 1.2 to 1.8 seconds) usually pass without retraction. Moderate (probably usually 0.6 to 1.2 seconds) can result in a month’s walking. A drastic drop (0.5 seconds) would probably mean three months on foot in most cases, but two years is also possible under the right conditions.

just count

Blick advises: You’re much closer than you think. Instead of relying on that feeling, pay attention to the limiters (50 meters apart on the highway) or the distance warning system usually installed in cars these days (see image gallery). Or count the seconds: note the spot where the car in front of us is passing, then count “twenty-one–twenty-two.” Not just to avoid fines. But because small distances are also very dangerous.

A version of this article was originally published in 2021.

Source: Blick