I did try and search the forum but found nothing that related to my need to know what I, as a new car buyer here in Switzerland, must have in my car. I knew about triangles but had heard stuff with regard to First Aid Kit, reflective jackets etc..

Anyway though this file relates to UK drivers coming over to Europe it does seem to help. Question is - is this just for foreign drivers in Switzerland or do we have another set of rules to follow

Attached Files

AA Car Compulsory Equipment in Europe.pdf (56.0 KB, 462 views)

As far as I know, the red triangle is the only legally required piece of kit.
Driver must always have a valid drivers' licence when driving, and the Fahrzeugausweiss (reg. doc. - which will also give proff of insurance) should also always be in the car - both required for Police controls.
Reflective jacket is only compulsory if driving in France.
Other stuff - first aid , fire extinguisher are sensible if space is available to stow safely.
Ins. co.'s can also provide an "in case of accident" pre-printed form where details of other vehicles/drivers/witness's can be easily recorded plus diagram of car to mark damage, etc.

Not sure if they are required but I always keep a couple of those bright orange vests alongside my spare tire in case of a break down. You can find them at any DIY shop for only a few francs.

TCS says the reflective vest is required in most European countries, but while not obligatory in Switzerland, it's recommended. Triangle is required.

First aid kit and fire extinguisher are recommended by TCS, but apparently not required. I carry both in the car and have actually used them helping at an accident or emergency scene.

http://www.ch.ch/gefahren/02058/0209...x.html?lang=en

Always good to get replies so thank you for them. As I will be in France and Germany as much as Switzerland I'll be carrying most stuff anyway. As for flourescent jackets - we have two from being Tour de France Marshalls when the TdF was in London 2007

That triangle came in handy when my car stopped dead just after an 80 kmph road at the cross roads in peak time. I think I am going to get a reflective jacket too. I don't care if it is mandatory or not, I just want to be visible :-)

And how about the "abgastest" certificate sheet? Is it required to have it in the car, or is the sidescreen sticker sufficient?

Just to confirm that in France they've had a campaign over the past couple of years re the yellow vests - you must have them in the car with you, and in the event of an accident/breakdown, you should be wearing it before you get out of the car.



(Tom1234 will be here in a mo, to correct my mistakes.)

Does the triangle still need to be reachable from inside the car (i.e., not in the boot).

I thought that was a rule, but the last couple of hire cars had the triangle in the boot.

The reflective vests were in the door pockets, though. Do they need to be reachable? [Answered by Mr R above]

The reason that fire extinguishers are not compulsory is that the potential for misuse is great can make things much worse:

i.e. with an engine fire, opening the bonnet up in order to spray the extinguisher will introduce air to the fire and make it much worse.

What you should do is just open in a cm or so (just activate the bonnet catch) and spray through the thin gap.

Re the reflective jackets, I always keep 4 in the car to cover passengers aswell - We broke down in a really dangerous spot and having the jackets for all of us made us really visible...

For those of us who were not Tour de France Marshalls, yellow vests are also available from Ikea.

...just make sure you get the right size...
...
..
.
... and not one for a child...

I have it in my mind from somewhere that you need one vest for each person in the car - what you say above would imply the same.

I actually asked a policeman in France this exact question and he was particularly unclear about it, although his answer seemed to imply that you actually only needed one for the driver - in effect the person responsible for the car. But I've not had any other confirmation of this. Tom1234?

Edit:

	Quote:
	Le gilet de sécurité devra être porté par le conducteur avant de sortir du véhicule, de nuit comme de jour, quelles que soient les conditions de visibilité,

The driver has to wear it before getting out of the car. No mention of other passengers.

Source: the horse's mouth

You should have an official 'Accident Declaration' form (supplied by your insurance company), and a piece of blue chalk to mark the relevent positions of the car's wheels in case you have to move the car for any reason before the arrival of the police. Not sure exactly why it has to be blue; I suppose because it shows up better than white on the tarmac...

Google being rather unfriendly at the moment, can anyone confirm this:

If one wears prescription glasses or contact lenses, is it mandatory to keep a spare pair in the car?

(At Swiss prices... )

A second pair is not mandatory.

Just DON'T DRIVE if your license states that you need to wear glasses/contacts and you forgot them at home/the office/the pub etc. The second thing the police look at when you give them your license (after your name/photo) is the "exceptions" such as "need to wear glasses" that are listed on the back.

If you are not forgetful, you don't need a second pair. If you can't remember what day it is (on a regular basis), good idea to have a "cheap" second pair in the car.

__________________
Do or do not, there is no try(ing). Yoda

I'd understood you need a spare pair of glasses if you wear contacts (i.e. if your driving licence is conditional on wearing glasses/contacts). Couldn't find the relevant reference but we were told this by a couple of people when we arrived.

Happy to be corrected!

Might be an urban myth but I though I read somewhere that you're supposed to have a shovel of some kind for digging a car out of snow...?

In Switzerland you must carry originals in the car: (Or possible on the spot fines)
Fahrzeugschein - car registration document, brown & grey paper
**Abgasprüfung - certificate and printout from garage of exhaust emissions
Swiss Führerschein - Driving license + wear your glasses if required
Warndrieck - Triangle, within reach of driver

In addition in Germany you should have available,
Verbandskasten - approved first aid kit (Look for the DIN number)

In addition in Germany, Italy, France, Austria
Warnveste - Luminous jacket, one for each person, wear before leaving the car (Get everyone behind the crash barrier)

Recommended in all countries, photocopies of insurance, driving licence, car papers, a reliable camera

Possibly a Fire extinguisher - see above warning!

Please note that after a crash the rear compartment is often damaged & cannot be opened easily. This is why you should carry these things inside the passenger car space if possible.

**The round green sticker is for your information only, it is not a legal document.

Recommended in Winter, chains, gloves, shovel