Priority roadSwitzerland

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Switzerland. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


22. Priority road

A priority road is a road whose traffic is given priority over traffic entering from intersecting roads. It is normally identified by a priority-road sign, while an end sign indicates where that continuing priority status stops.

Drivers on a priority road must still obey traffic lights, authorised officers, speed limits, crossings and turning rules. Having priority never allows a driver to proceed when doing so would create danger or block an intersection.

Priority-road sign with a main-road route panel on Route de Saint-Cergue. (Arzier, Vaud, Switzerland)
Wikimedia.org • Marc Mongenet • CC BY-SA
How does priority-road status work in Switzerland?

The main-road sign, route principale or Hauptstrasse, removes the ordinary priority-from-the-right rule at the following junctions. The end-of-main-road sign restores that default rule unless another control applies. Read any diagram showing the priority route turning.

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Road Signs Ordinance articles 35-39,65; Traffic Rules Ordinance articles 6,14-15

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Supporting official source

Start of a priority road. Start of a priority road.

English • Traffic sign 3.03 • Priority road.

Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 3.03 • Hauptstrasse.

Français • Signal 3.03 • Route principale.

Italiano • Segnale 3.03 • Strada principale.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)

🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)

🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-02. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Swiss signalling ordinance, version 1 October 2026, annex 2: Fedlex.admin.ch • Signal 3.03, PDF page 111. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

End of the priority road. End of the priority road.

English • Traffic sign 3.04 • End of priority road.

Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 3.04 • Ende der Hauptstrasse.

Français • Signal 3.04 • Fin de la route principale.

Italiano • Segnale 3.04 • Fine della strada principale.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)

🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)

🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-02. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Swiss signalling ordinance, version 1 October 2026, annex 2: Fedlex.admin.ch • Signal 3.04, PDF page 111. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

How can you tell where a priority road applies in Switzerland?

Read the priority-road sign, the corresponding end indication and any supplementary junction diagram. Distinguish a continuing road designation from a sign that regulates only one junction. If a diagram shows the priority route turning, follow that diagram rather than assuming the straight-ahead road has priority.

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Road Signs Ordinance articles 35-39,65; Traffic Rules Ordinance articles 6,14-15

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Supporting official source

Does having road priority let you ignore other controls in Switzerland?

No. Obey the applicable traffic signals and authorised directions, speed limits and crossing rules. Turning or changing lanes can require yielding, and having priority never permits entering a conflict that cannot be crossed safely.

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Road Signs Ordinance articles 35-39,65; Traffic Rules Ordinance articles 6,14-15

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Supporting official source

1 Switzerland 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Footpath 9 Bike path 10 Shared-use path 11 Tunnel 12 Pedestrian zone 13 Customs 14 One-way traffic 15 Slope 16 Bus lane 17 Bus stop 18 Dead end 19 Stop sign 20 Give way 21 Roundabout 22 Priority road 23 Road narrowing 24 Priority over oncoming traffic 25 Give way to oncoming traffic 26 Pedestrian crossing 27 Railway crossing 28 Mandatory direction 29 Turn prohibition 30 School area 31 Overtaking 32 Crossing animals 33 Slippery road 34 Rockfall 35 Aircraft 36 Curve 37 Chevron 38 Wrong-way driving 39 Roadworks 40 Crosswind 41 Height limit 42 Width limit 43 Length limit 44 Weight limit 45 Intersection direction sign 46 Priority at the next junction 47 Traffic lights 48 Traffic lights warning 49 Pedestrian lights 50 Road markings 51 Junction layout 52 Driving licence 53 Location marker 54 Road number 55 Countdown markers 56 Traffic mirror 57 Emergency telephone 58 International border 59 Pedestrian underpass 60 Cycling route 61 End of restriction 62 Parking 63 No parking 64 No stopping 65 Parking disc 66 Reversing 67 U-turn 68 Traffic jam 69 Detour 70 Uncontrolled crossroad 71 Road surface 72 Exit 73 Information point 74 Horse riding 75 Emergency exit 76 Runaway truck ramp 77 Radio service 78 Oversize load 79 City limit 80 Hospital 81 Parking garage 82 Passing place 83 Pedestrian overpass 84 Axle weight limit 85 Licence plate 86 Charging station 87 Dangers 88 Weather 89 Turn on red 90 Pedestrian 91 Cyclist 92 Moped 93 Motorcycle 94 Car 95 Truck 96 Bus 97 Police 98 Ambulance 99 Tailgating 100 European emission standard ...