Road Traffic Office
In Switzerland , the Road Traffic Office ( StVA ) is the cantonal authority that is responsible for enforcing federal regulations governing traffic on public roads. In many cantons, inland shipping is also affiliated to this authority, which is why the terms Road Traffic and Shipping Office or Traffic Office are common.
The Road Traffic Office mainly deals with the approval of motor vehicles and people for road traffic and carries out the corresponding vehicle and driver tests. In most cantons, the Road Traffic Office is also responsible for ordering administrative measures, issuing special and exceptional permits and collecting traffic taxes (motor vehicle tax).
The vehicle is registered with the issuing of a vehicle license and license plate and is subject to conditions: The vehicle must comply with Swiss regulations, be operationally safe and have liability insurance. If one of the conditions is no longer applicable, ID and signs will be withdrawn after an unsuccessful dunning procedure. The same withdrawal procedure is used if the traffic tax is not paid.
The personal admission takes place with the issue of the driver's license after the official examination has shown that the applicant knows the traffic rules and knows how to safely drive vehicles of the category for which the license is valid.
The administrative measures authority deals with the driver's license holders who do not adhere to the traffic regulations or whose fitness to drive is questionable for other reasons. Measures can include a. can be ordered: warning, withdrawal of driver's license, conditions. Based on the results of the traffic medical controls, which serve the prevention, conditions or security withdrawals are also issued.
The vehicle inspection ( motor vehicle inspection , MFK) ensures that the vehicle complies with Swiss regulations and is safe to operate. The vehicles are subject to regular follow-up checks.
The driving test usually consists of a theoretical and a practical part, depending on the desired category. The theory test is taken on the computer; the practical test in normal road traffic. In order to be allowed to practice learner drives, applicants need a learner's license for almost all categories.
Vehicle and driver tests may only be carried out by specially trained traffic experts.
All activities of the Road Traffic Office serve to maintain and improve road safety. There are demarcations to the police, who are responsible for checking and complying with traffic regulations on the street, and to the building authority, which manages the construction and maintenance of the streets and looks after the signaling with the assistance of the police.
Web links
- Road traffic offices in Switzerland
- Association of Road Traffic Offices
- neo1.ch: From horse to electric car: Road traffic office SVSA turns 90
See also
- Motor vehicle registration authority for the corresponding authority in Germany and Austria