Speeding in Switzerland
The penalty depends on the extent of the excess and the zone concerned. Beyond a certain threshold, speeding becomes a criminal offence.
A minor excess remains a fixed fine
A moderate excess over the speed limit is punished by a fixed-amount fine. See traffic fines for the amounts applicable depending on the zone.
From when does licence withdrawal become mandatory?
The law does not set a single numerical threshold for administrative withdrawal: the authority assesses the severity of the offence and the danger created on a case-by-case basis (art. 16 para. 3 LCR). The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (bfu) cites indicative thresholds recognised in Federal Supreme Court case law, of around 66 km/h in built-up areas and 73 km/h outside built-up areas, but this is not a fixed legal scale.
The particularly serious speeding offence: a criminal offence
The law does, however, set precise thresholds beyond which speeding constitutes a criminal offence, punished by a custodial sentence of one to four years (art. 90 para. 3-4 LCR):
- 40 km/h or more where the limit is 30 km/h or less;
- 50 km/h or more where the limit is 50 km/h or less;
- 60 km/h or more where the limit is 80 km/h or less;
- 80 km/h or more where the limit exceeds 80 km/h.
These same thresholds result in a licence withdrawal of at least two years (art. 16c para. 2 let. abis LCR).