School areaSwitzerland
30. School area
A school area is a road or group of roads near a school where large numbers of children may walk, cycle, cross the road or enter and leave vehicles. It may be identified by warning signs, zone signs, road markings, traffic-calming measures or flashing lights.
Special speed limits, parking restrictions or access rules may apply permanently or only during school arrival and departure times. Drivers should reduce speed, watch carefully for children and be prepared to stop.
Wikimedia.org • Marc Mongenet • CC BY-SA
What speed rules apply around schools in Switzerland?
A children-warning sign calls for particular care; it does not itself impose one numerical school-area speed. Apply the road’s limit and any signed speed zone or restriction. Slow further where children may step into the road.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: OSR11; OCR4,4a,6,18-19; LCR26,32
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Traffic Rules Ordinance, state1October2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state1July2026
Warning for children.
English • Traffic sign 1.23 • Children.
Deutsch • Verkehrssignal 1.23 • Kinder.
Français • Signal 1.23 • Enfants.
Italiano • Segnale 1.23 • Bambini.
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: Bundesamt für Strassen (ASTRA) • Public domain • Original revision 2017-07-01. Wikimedia original unmodified.
Does a school warning sign in Switzerland automatically set the speed limit?
A children or school warning alerts you to a potential hazard; the enforceable numerical speed limit depends on the applicable law, regulatory signs and any time or variable display. Slow further if children are near the road.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: OSR11; OCR4,4a,6,18-19; LCR26,32
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Traffic Rules Ordinance, state1October2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state1July2026
How should you pass a school entrance in Switzerland?
Watch for children stepping out from between parked vehicles, obey crossings and any school patrol, and follow stopping or parking restrictions. Do not obstruct visibility near a crossing or school entrance; approach at a speed that permits a safe stop.
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: OSR11; OCR4,4a,6,18-19; LCR26,32
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Traffic Rules Ordinance, state1October2026
🔗 fedlex.admin.ch • Switzerland: Road Traffic Act, state1July2026

Traffic rules
Switzerland