Skip to main content

Switzerland to improve traffic flow by 2020

The Swiss federal office for roads, Astra, has announced plans to implement a series of measures by 2020 to ease traffic flow on roads and to prevent congestion Plans include limited use of the emergency lanes for some traffic in peak hours, bans on overtaking for trucks, and a temporary reduction to the maximum speed on heavily congested roads, as well as a targeted management at traffic lights. The measures will be implemented according to the degree of congestion on the national roads. There will also
August 21, 2013 Read time: 1 min
The Swiss federal office for roads, Astra, has announced plans to implement a series of measures by 2020 to ease traffic flow on roads and to prevent congestion

Plans include limited use of the emergency lanes for some traffic in peak hours, bans on overtaking for trucks, and a temporary reduction to the maximum speed on heavily congested roads, as well as a targeted management at traffic lights. The measures will be implemented according to the degree of congestion on the national roads. There will also be an improved disclosure of traffic news via the radio and information boards.

Astra has not disclosed the costs of the proposed measures, but has revealed that development on the emergency lane to accommodate for more traffic amounts to US$5.41 million per kilometre.

Related Content

  • Active traffic management - challenges and benefits
    April 12, 2013
    Minnesota DoT has built one of the most intensive Active Traffic Management (ATM) systems on the road today. Like many ITS deployments, the state has gained benefits but also faces many challenges, as Pete Goldin reports. Smart Lanes is the brand name of Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDoT) ATM system on I-35W in the Twin Cities Metro Area. The original system covered 16 miles of I-35W south of Minneapolis starting in 2009, and was extended by two miles in 2011. Additional ATM equipment was inst
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi offer new options for travel time measurements
    November 20, 2013
    New trials show Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals can be reliably used for measuring travel times and at a lower cost than an ANPR system, but which is the better proposition depends on many factors. Measuring travel times has traditionally relied automatic number plate (or licence plate) recognition (ANPR/ALPR) cameras capturing the progress of vehicles travelling along a pre-defined route. Such systems also have the benefit of being able to count passing traffic and have become a vital tool in dealing with c
  • Keeping cities moving: five ways to manage traffic better with smart video
    May 3, 2022
    Excessive traffic is a growing issue on road networks around the world, and reliance on private vehicles is still increasing. The good news for authorities is that the latest smart video technologies can help to keep traffic flowing – cutting journey times, increasing road safety, and helping to reduce vehicle emissions, says Juan Sádaba, ITS Business Development Manager at Hikvision Spain
  • Wireless traffic management reduces costs and commute times
    January 30, 2012
    The County of Los Angeles is widely known for having among the worst traffic problems and the most road congestion in the US. To combat these problems, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works decided to deploy a wireless communications system to connect over 1,000 of the most congested intersections so they could dynamically monitor and manage the congestion and reduce commute times.