BERN, SWITZERLAND – Via sicura’ second package of tighter road safety regulations is likely to be delayed for a year to early 2015. It includes checks on older drivers and anyone with a “serious disease” to ensure they are capable of driving.
The change would require all drivers over age 70 to have a medical check, including vision and hearing tests, every two years. Drivers with some illnesses such as diabetes and epilepsy would need a doctor’s certificate to drive.
The Federal Council will have the final say, but the Federal Highway Office is asking for the delay, with several cantons reporting that it will take longer to train general practicioners, who will have responsibility for giving medical approval or not for drivers to keep their licenses.
Via sicura is a programme that was adopted by the Swiss parliament in June 2012. The first set of measures were adopted at the start of 2013. They include higher penalties for speeding and banning radar alerts as well as setting a minimum age of 6 for riding a bicycle on roads.
The second set of measures would also reduce the tolerance for alcohol to zero for young drivers, learners and professional drivers.
A group not currently clearly covered by drivers license laws is Swiss citizens who reside abroad. The new rules would allow them to keep their Swiss licenses for a maximum of five years, depending on circumstances.