ZoneSwitzerland
5. Zone
A traffic zone is an area in which a traffic rule applies throughout all included roads or road sections. The rule normally begins at a zone-entry sign and remains applicable until the corresponding end-of-zone sign is passed.
Zones may regulate speed, parking, access, vehicle categories, emissions or other traffic behaviour. The signs used, the roads covered and the effect of intersections or local exceptions depend on local traffic law.
Wikimedia.org • Marc Mongenet • CC BY-SA
How do people refer to traffic zones in Switzerland?
A 30 km/h zone is a Tempo-30-Zone in German, zone 30 in French and zona 30 in Italian. Swiss law also provides other area categories with different rules.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Signalling Ordinance, state 1 October 2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state 1 July 2026
Where does a zone rule apply in Switzerland?
The zone’s instructions apply from its entrance until its end. A normal junction does not cancel the restriction. Where a 30 km/h zone leads directly into a specially signed 20 km/h residential area, or the reverse, the entrance sign for the new zone also ends the previous one.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Signalling Ordinance, state 1 October 2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state 1 July 2026
Do pedestrians automatically have priority everywhere in a Swiss 30 km/h zone?
No. The zone 30 designation alone does not establish general pedestrian priority. Observe the normal crossing and priority rules and drive considerately; other specially signed area categories can give pedestrians additional rights.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Signalling Ordinance, state 1 October 2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state 1 July 2026
How do you know when a traffic zone ends in Switzerland?
Look for the matching zone-end sign. Where a 30 km/h zone and a specially signed 20 km/h residential area directly adjoin, the new zone’s entrance sign also ends the preceding zone. Apply the new category’s speed and pedestrian rules; a separate parking restriction may still apply.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Signalling Ordinance, state 1 October 2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state 1 July 2026

Traffic rules
Switzerland