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– October 14, 2024

What applies to snow on the road?

Der Winter zieht auch in der Schweiz langsam ein. Doch was gilt es in Bezug auf die kalte Jahreszeit im Strassenverkehr zu beachten?

First of all, it should be said that there is no direct obligation for winter tires in Switzerland. There is only a legal provision stating that car tires must have a minimum tread depth of 1.6 millimeters (Art. 58 Para. 4 Sentence 2 VTS). However, there are no other explicit provisions on tires. It is therefore not prohibited to drive with summer or winter tires all year round.

However, vehicles must always be in a safe operating condition and the driver must be in control of the vehicle at all times so that he can fulfill his duty of care (Art. 31 Para. 1 SVG and Art. 29 SVG). This means that in winter road conditions such as snow and ice, the use of winter tires is recommended to ensure operational safety.

This is because if you are driving in winter conditions with summer tires and cause an accident as a result, you could be fined for violating traffic regulations in accordance with Art. 90 Para. 1 SVG. In addition, you run the risk that the insurance company will reduce the benefits due from the outset or claim the money back later if you cause an accident with summer tires in winter or vice versa.

It is therefore recommended to use winter tires from October to Easter, especially at temperatures below seven degrees. Winter tires should also not be used in summer at high temperatures, as they increase the braking distance and thus impair driving safety.

If you have any questions about road traffic law, our lawyers will be happy to assist you.

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