The first part of the Swiss highway was build in 1955 in north-central Switzerland. With a lenght of 1,638 km the highway network has one of the highest densities in the world. The Swiss highway has multiple names, because they have multiple languages in Switzerland. In the German part they call it the Autobahn, in the Italian speaking part it's called Autostrade, Autoroutes in the French-speaking part and Autostradas in the Romanian part. The Swiss highway is marked with the letter A.
Switzerland has four national languages. Because of the geographic locations of Germany, French, Italy and Romania they speak German in northern, central and eastern Switzerland, French in western Switzerland, Italian in southern Switzerland and Romansh in southeastern Switzerland.
Unlike the most European countries the currency in Switzerland is the Swiss franc (CHF).
You are required to have a vignette behind your windscreen when you drive on the highway (Autobahn). In Switzerland itself you don't have to pay toll, except in The Great St Bernard Tunnel on the Italian border.
The speed limit on the Swiss highways is 120 km/h.
Only a warning triangle is mandatory for passenger cars. Snow chains are mandatory when it is indicated by road signs (between November 1 and April 30) and must be fitted on at least two drive wheels.
In Switzerland the TCS is a roadside assistance company and can be reached on the number +41 22 417 22 20.
Like the rest of Europe 112 is the general emergency number.
Petrol stations offer unleaded petrol (95 and 98 octane), Diesel and LPG (liquid petroleum gas). The local name for unleaded 95 is Super 95 Bleifrei and for unleaded 98 it is Super plus 98.
Radar detectors are forbidden even when they are switched off. You may not use navigation software with a speed camera overlay. This functions has to be deactivated.
While driving using of your mobile phone is forbidden, unless it's mounted in the car.
It's compulsory to use dipped headlights in tunnels and it's recommended to use it during the day. You may not hitchhike along the highways and semi-highways.
