Give way to oncoming trafficSwitzerland

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Switzerland. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.

Traffic signs

Traffic rules

Switzerland

25. Give way to oncoming traffic

Give way to oncoming traffic means that drivers must allow vehicles approaching from the opposite direction to pass first through a narrow section of road. The rule is normally indicated by a sign facing the direction that must yield and a corresponding priority sign facing oncoming traffic.

Drivers must reduce speed and stop when necessary before entering the narrow passage. They may continue only when they can do so safely and without obstructing oncoming traffic that has priority.

Give-way-to-oncoming-traffic sign at Metzgerstrasse Bridge over the Töss. (Winterthur, Switzerland)
Wikimedia.org • Jag9889 • CC BY-SA

When must I give way to oncoming traffic in Switzerland?

At sign 3.09, traffic travelling in the direction of the red arrow must give way to opposing traffic at the narrowing. The exception is for inline-wheel vehicles whose drivers can establish that there is enough room to pass safely. Obey temporary signals and authorised directions as well.

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Road Signs Ordinance articles 7,42; Traffic Rules Ordinance article 9

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Supporting official source

Road narrowing, give way to oncoming drivers.

English • Traffic sign 3.09 • Give way to oncoming vehicles.

Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 3.09 • Dem Gegenverkehr Vortritt lassen.

Français • Signal 3.09 • Laissez passer les véhicules en sens inverse.

Italiano • Segnale 3.09 • Lasciar passare i veicoli provenienti in senso inverso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-02. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Swiss signalling ordinance, version 1 October 2026, annex 2: Fedlex.admin.ch • Signal 3.09, PDF page 112. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

Does a road-narrows warning automatically give oncoming traffic priority in Switzerland?

Not necessarily. A warning of a narrow carriageway is not itself the same as an instruction to give way. Check whether there is a separate priority sign, signal or temporary traffic control, and take account of any rules for an obstruction on your side.

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Road Signs Ordinance articles 7,42; Traffic Rules Ordinance article 9

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Supporting official source

What if an oncoming vehicle is already entering a narrow passage in Switzerland?

Wait safely and allow it to clear the passage. Even a driver facing sign 3.10, which gives priority over opposing traffic, must wait when an opposing vehicle is already engaged in the narrowed section.

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Road Signs Ordinance articles 7,42; Traffic Rules Ordinance article 9

🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Supporting official source

Road narrowing, oncoming drivers have to give way.

English • Traffic sign 3.10 • Priority over oncoming vehicles.

Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 3.10 • Vortritt vor dem Gegenverkehr.

Français • Signal 3.10 • Priorité par rapport aux véhicules venant en sens inverse.

Italiano • Segnale 3.10 • Precedenza rispetto al traffico inverso.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • SSV, Anhang 2 (DE)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSR, annexe 2 (FR)
🔗 Fedlex.admin.ch • OSStr, allegato 2 (IT)

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-02. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Swiss signalling ordinance, version 1 October 2026, annex 2: Fedlex.admin.ch • Signal 3.10, PDF page 112. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

Priority over oncoming traffic

Pedestrian crossing

1 Switzerland 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Zone 6 Speed limit 7 Minimum speed 8 Footpath 9 Bike path 10 Shared-use path 11 Tunnel 12 Pedestrian zone 13 Customs 14 One-way traffic 15 Slope 16 Bus lane 17 Bus stop 18 Dead end 19 Stop sign 20 Give way 21 Roundabout 22 Priority road 23 Road narrowing 24 Priority over oncoming traffic 25 Give way to oncoming traffic 26 Pedestrian crossing 27 Railway crossing 28 Mandatory direction 29 Turn prohibition 30 School area 31 Overtaking 32 Crossing animals 33 Slippery road 34 Rockfall 35 Aircraft 36 Curve 37 Chevron 38 Wrong-way driving 39 Roadworks 40 Crosswind 41 Height limit 42 Width limit 43 Length limit 44 Weight limit 45 Intersection direction sign 46 Priority at the next junction 47 Traffic lights 48 Traffic lights warning 49 Pedestrian lights 50 Road markings 51 Junction layout 52 Driving licence 53 Location marker 54 Road number 55 Countdown markers 56 Traffic mirror 57 Emergency telephone 58 International border 59 Pedestrian underpass 60 Cycling route 61 End of restriction 62 Parking 63 No parking 64 No stopping 65 Parking disc 66 Reversing 67 U-turn 68 Traffic jam 69 Detour 70 Uncontrolled crossroad 71 Road surface 72 Exit 73 Information point 74 Horse riding 75 Emergency exit 76 Runaway truck ramp 77 Radio service 78 Oversize load 79 City limit 80 Hospital 81 Parking garage 82 Passing place 83 Pedestrian overpass 84 Axle weight limit 85 Licence plate 86 Charging station 87 Dangers 88 Weather 89 Turn on red 90 Pedestrian 91 Cyclist 92 Moped 93 Motorcycle 94 Car 95 Truck 96 Bus 97 Police 98 Ambulance 99 Tailgating 100 European emission standard ...