Hello all

I moved here in November and brought my trusty old car with me. I loved driving in the UK and the freedom to get anywhere at any time (obviously the public transport system isn't as reliable as here...).

But since coming here I've only used it about three times, not including the weekly 20 minute drives a few times around the block to keep it going. I'm terrified of driving here - the other drivers toot their horns all the time, the trams are right next to you and my speedo shows MPH much clearer than KMPH!

Did anyone else have the same fears? What did you do? Is it just a case of practice and getting used to it, or did anyone try taking a few driving lessons out here? I've been driving for 8 years and am fairly confident with it at home, so didn't expect this at all!

i suggest practice, practice and more practice, let them beep...

Doesn't your speedo have the kph shown just inside the ring of mph? You should be able to track your speed with that.

I drove a 1990 registered car in the UK and that had kph and mph on the same dial.

I think it will probably take you a bit longer to get used to driving here if you have a left hand drive car but you just have to get out into the traffic and get used to it.

Same with my gf . she always drove in the USA where every road is designed to have an airplane land on it and then had a horrible crash of which her ex was in a coma and is paralized for life....(he was driving)

Here she just started a few weeks ago to drive again afgter me constant ly pushing her to drive.

She is loving it again now.

it helps I have a jeep which is bigger than most cars so she feels a little safer

I've driven once here because I had to. I was scared ****-less. It really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be

1. Open a bank account.
2. Put 15 000 CHFs in.
3. Wait for the fines.

Preparing for the inevitable decreases stress and makes driving more enjoyable.

i don't have a fear of driving. it's others who should fear me driving. i really wish they'd put flashing lights on crossings like they have on pelican crossings in the uk...

I started last year after 18 months of being here, I also find Zurich a pretty stressful place to drive mainly because of
i) the trams
ii) the rule about giving way to traffic joining from the right
iii) the speed cameras

In terms of changing things, you can always get the speed dial changed over so the KMH are more visible, friend of mine did this in the UK with a car originally showing KMH so now showing MPH, which could help avoid (reduce ) the speeding fines.

For the other fears, I would recommend driving early on a Sunday morning, there's very little traffic about and it's much much less stressful as there's usually noone behind you, so giving you thinking time. Overtaking trams is still a bit stressful, but they helpfully stop every 500 yards to let you pass.

Driving outside the cities is also much easier, you could go for a drive with nowhere particular in mind and just make sure you are following the rules (and that you have a map to help you home).

And I've also found that pootling about like a little old man reduces stress. If you stick to the speed limit you will get a following, but on a country road you can always pull to the side to let them past. Doesn't happen so much in the cities due to the speed cameras.

Good luck, Ali.

Spot on. This rules applies anywhere in the world, if you're getting tailgated, let them pass as soon as it's practical. Much less stressful way to go about things. Remember the speed limit is a maximum speed, not a compulsary one.
As for your speedo, a quick aid is use tipex to mark the 50kmh limit, or just drive in 2nd or 3rd gear in towns, much less chance of the car racing away.

I agree, and just take it as slow as you want (is there a minimum speed limit ?). Nothing to it !

I love driving The best thing in the world is to be in a hot southern european city with a rental car. Drove around Palma the Mallorca, Rome, other Italian cities and loved it. You feel so alive !

If you are really struggling, booking a few driving lessons might not be a bad idea, just to get you out on the roads more. I've known a few incomers who've done that and it made a difference to their confidence level. But as walterguariento said, the only answer is getting out there and practicing.
Good luck.

Take you car back to the UK, sell it and buy one here with the steering wheel on the right side. That will help a lot.

Quit driving and buy a season ticket for public transport, cost Sfr 3'100.--

The cities are a bit stressful to drive in, lots of signs and things to be aware of, I try to avoid and park on the outskirts of town and use public transport as much as possible.

Having said that Motorway driving is a pleasure compared to the UK. It has it's hotspots St Gottard tunnel, around Bern etc but generally I quite enjoy driving on the motorways.

This is only socially accepted if you have a Dutch registered car. Otherwise go with the flow.

I do not find driving here scary at all, from my perspective all neighbour countries are worse In Germany they tailgate at 200 kmh, in Austria they will overtake you in a haripin bend of a Pass-Strasse and do not get me started on French or Italian drivers... the only thing I needed to adapt to was the passive-aggressive attitude of blocking each other in the city. So I can understand everyone who finds Albisrieder Platz scary to drive through.

Driving in Basel you develop a special sixth sense for things like trams, cyclists and buses. The first time I drove here, I ended up driving along the tram tracks in Messeplatz then I almost crashed in Aeshenplatz with trams coming at me from all angles. I sense Zurich is similar, but once you get out of the cities its wonderful driving here, clear, well maintained roads and relatively docile drivers. The only thing I do miss are those little driver's courtesies, e.g. giving way, slowing down when someone is pulling out of a parking space, saying thank you to one another etc..

Thanks all for the advice, it's nice to hear that other people felt the same and that it's really not THAT bad.

I will just keep with it and make sure I go out as much as I can. It will be nice to not have to lug stuff back from Conforama or Ikea on a train, and I really think having a car here in the summer will be great if we decide to go somewhere.

Oh - and loved the post about opening a bank account for the fines! I'll get on that....

Thanks again!!

Honestly, I can't relate - what fear?

The only thing I can relate to is road position, as you are driving a RHD car, you will automatically drift to the right. One can see this really clearly on continental motorways.

If you do have concerns, why not get lessons here to get a feel for the roads here in a "safe" environment?

I would also, respectfully, suggest you consider what is the real cause of your fear as this may help you address it.

Off the top of my head, from reading your post, it could be any of the following (and more):
1) familiarity (lack of) - could be addressed with lessons
2) fear of the unknown (rules, trams etc.) - also addressed with lessons or reading the rules (available in English if I recall)
3) RHD car - sell your car and buy a Swiss/LHD one

Ultimately, though, if you are worried, slow down. Road rage (IMO) is not as bad here as in the UK, so just slow down and take it easy (as the ad goes...). As others have said, you can let people go pass you if they want to go faster.

Safe driving.

Switzerland really is not a bad place at all as far as driving standards go. My only criticism is that the autobahns tend to be built for traffic levels of 40 years ago, so the often only 2 lanes get crowded and that leads to people driving ridiculously close. However this can and does happen in 8 lanes around LA so it is hardly unique to Switzerland.

The one constant cause of concern for me when driving here is keeping abreast of the speed limits on unfamiliar roads. They are often, on first acquaintance, far from logical with a dead straight road varying from 50 to 60 to 80 to 60 to 80 to 50 to 30 to 80 to 50 all in the space of a couple of kilometres being an all to common occurence. Locals think nothing of it when it has always been thus, but out-of-towners often end up paying a small fortune in fines unless they watch out for and adjust to every sign.

I have no desire to speed at all, having gotten all that out of my system in my youth and on the racetrack. I do wish that it was made easier not to break the law. As soon as cars are routinely fitted with devices where one can elect to be limitted from exceeding the limit on a given road the better. All across Europe cameras have been popping up and it is very easily to mistakenly end up with hassle with law enforcement.

I think it is all relative.

Drive to Paris, drive around there for the weekend; the next weekend drive to Milan, drive around there for the weekend; come back to Switzerland, it will be a charm.

I've never had a problem since I've been here and I am still using a RHD vehicle