Pedestrian crossing
The pedestrian crossing is the official and common name for the pedestrian crossing in Switzerland . It is a crossing system on streets for pedestrians and wheelchair users . The pedestrian crossing is marked in addition to the information with the corresponding signage by wide lines on the roadway , which also serve as road signals. It is applied to the road surface in yellow.
In German it is colloquially often referred to as a zebra crossing after the similarly patterned zebras .
In contrast to the pedestrian overpass or pedestrian underpass, the pedestrian crossing is always at ground level.
Since in most cases there is a level difference (step) between the pavement and the road, the curb is usually lowered or beveled at pedestrian crossings to make it easier to cross, even with prams , wheelchairs or handcarts .
Legal
Pedestrians have the right of way on the pedestrian crossing, but are not allowed to enter it unexpectedly ( Art. 49 SVG ). You may not exercise your right of way if a vehicle is so close that it cannot stop in time. Pedestrians must use pedestrian crossings, overpasses or underpasses if they are less than 50 meters away. In relation to trams , pedestrians also have no right of way on the pedestrian crossing ( Art. 47 VRV). Cyclists are not allowed to use the pedestrian crossing unless they are pushing the bike.
Until 1994, the Traffic Regulations (VRV) required that pedestrians who wanted to cross a street on a pedestrian crossing had to show approaching cars by hand signals . In contrast to this, however, the superordinate Road Traffic Act (SVG) stipulates that pedestrians have the right of way on the pedestrian crossing without restriction. This created great uncertainty, so that the Federal Supreme Court finally asked the legislature to clarify this situation. For this reason, the mandatory show of hands was lifted in 1994 in accordance with the laws in force abroad. Since then, drivers have to give way if a pedestrian
"... is already on the strip or is waiting in front of it and obviously wants to cross the lane."
Since 2006, drivers who do not give right of way have to expect a fine.
Additional signage
Pedestrian crossings are independent, binding markings (marking 6.17) and are usually not additionally signaled. They are yellow, paved pedestrian crossings can exceptionally be white ( Art. 77 SSV).
Out-of-town pedestrian crossings that the vehicle driver cannot detect in good time from a distance of 200 meters are indicated by the pedestrian crossing hazard signal (signal 1.22) ( Art. 11 SSV).
Out-of-town pedestrian crossings as well as unexpected or poorly recognizable inner-town pedestrian crossings are also marked by the location of a pedestrian crossing signal (signal 4.11) ( Art. 47 SSV).
No stopping
Vehicles are not allowed to stop in pedestrian crossings. This stopping prohibition also applies expressly in convoys ( Art. 12 VRV). This means that a vehicle driver is obliged to drive with foresight and only drive onto a pedestrian crossing if it is certain that he does not have to stop on it.
A no-stopping line (marking 6.18) at least 10 meters long is placed in front of the pedestrian crossing, except in the area of branching areas, at cycle lanes and at parking and stopping bays. The no-stopping line prohibits voluntary stopping on the lane and the adjacent pavement. Stopping to give a pedestrian the right of way and stopping in slow traffic are not considered voluntary ( Art. 77 SSV).
Web links
- Claudia Wirz: “Zebra crossing” is even shorter than “pedestrian crossing”. Interview with linguist Luise F. Pusch : “Language is a matter of habit”, NZZ of July 8, 2013.
