School areaSwitzerland

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.


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.

School warning sign in Corbières. (Fribourg, Switzerland)
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. 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

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 ...