Caught speeding? You'll have to pay these fines

It can happen in an instant: You drive at 36 kph through a 30 zone, or you fail to see a speed limit sign on a country road. Speed limit violations are a mass phenomenon on our roads. And there are speed cameras lurking everywhere.

Switzerland holds the top spot when it comes to the performance capacity of newly registered vehicles. The average new car in Switzerland has over 179 hp. According to the Swiss Auto Trade Association we are in pole position in this respect – a fair distance ahead of second-placed Germany with 153 hp. This can make it especially tempting to test your car's limits and speed down the empty motorway at 4am at full throttle. But this adrenalin rush has major consequences. 

Legal consequences

The legal consequences of a speeding violation range from a standard fine to the seizure and disposal of the beloved fireball. And from a warning to license revocation for an unspecified time.

Speed violations are a mass phenomenon. The courts therefore judge them systematically based on the speed driven, whereby any individual circumstances are rarely taken into account.

For minor speed violations, standard fines range from CHF 40.00 to CHF 260.00, depending on whether the event occurred in or outside an urban area, or on the motorway. The matter ends on payment of the fine.

When do I lose my driver's license?

If a standard fine no longer applies, both a criminal and an administrative sanction follows. Depending on the speed driven, either a warning is issued or the driver's license is revoked. Repeat offenders can expect much longer license revocation periods than first offenders.

Who is deemed to be a speeder?

The following violations will mark you down as a speeder: driving 40 kph too fast in a 30 kph zone, 50 kph too fast in a 50 kph zone in an urban area, 60 kph too fast in an 80 kph zone outside of town, or 80 kph too fast where you may drive at 80 kph or more. A speeder as defined above commits a crime punishable by at least one year's imprisonment. In addition, the state can seize the car of the guilty party and have it auctioned. The speeder's driver's license is revoked for at least two years for safety reasons. He/she is then subject to a psychological assessment prior to the license being restored.

Conclusion

According to the 2018 SINUS Report, every third to fourth traffic accident resulting in death is due at least in part to speeding. The legal consequences are correspondingly radical. They also apply if the person concerned needs their driver's license to carry out their work. Hence it's best to drive fast where it's permitted – on the race track.