The voters of the canton of Zurich clearly approved the mobility initiative yesterday, sending a strong signal for a speed limit of 50 km/h on main traffic routes. The approval of the initiative, co- launched by the TCS section Zurich, demonstrates that the public desires a clear hierarchy of the road network.
This result in Zurich also pleases TCS central president Peter Goetschi: 'With the acceptance of the mobility initiative, the voters of the canton of Zurich have set a strong signal for the speed limit of 50 km/h on main roads. This result confirms the recent vote in Lugano on the same topic and shows that the public does not want a creeping expansion of the 30-zone.' The opinion of the public has not changed since 2001 when the VCS initiative was rejected by 80 percent of the voters and unanimously by the cantons.
The cantonal voting result also underlines the demand of the federal parliament to bring more clarity to the national framework for a 30 km/h speed limit. To implement this concern of the Schilliger motion, the Federal Council has prepared a consultation draft to which the TCS gave its opinion for the first time on 3 September.
The TCS has thoroughly examined the Federal Council's proposals during the consultation and reviewed the planned changes in the signalling and noise protection ordinance. From TCS's perspective, the Schilliger motion is thus effectively implemented, and the hierarchy of the road network is strengthened. Nevertheless, the ordinance can still be improved with four targeted adjustments. As traffic-oriented roads are central to the ordinance, it is appropriate that the definition of the term is regulated and applied uniformly throughout Switzerland. Therefore, the TCS suggests defining traffic- oriented roads clearly in an additional article of the ordinance.
According to the new ordinance, low-noise road surfaces should be prioritised to reduce noise pollution. In terms of precision, the TCS demands an additional article in the ordinance. Specifically, when speed reductions are made for noise protection reasons, the speed limit should be regularly reviewed and possible measures examined.
The prioritisation of low-noise road surfaces also necessitates action by the federal government. TCS demands that the Federal Roads Office and the Federal Office for the Environment specify in their instructions to the cantons and municipalities that low-noise road surfaces are the most important measure for noise reduction.
The consultation strengthens the prevailing principle: a 50 km/h speed limit on major axes for motorised traffic. Although the Federal Council also affirms this principle, the TCS wants to go a step further. The option to include traffic-oriented road sections in 30 km/h zones should be eliminated without replacement. Within a 30 km/h zone, if traffic-oriented road sections suddenly appear, different regulations regarding right of way and pedestrian crossings apply. This leads to confusion, mistakes, and accidents, which the TCS rejects.
TCS is confident that the Federal Council will further improve the ordinance draft presented. With the definitive implementation of the parliamentary decision, it will be ensured that speed regulations remain a federal matter, as regulated in the road traffic law.
Press contact:
Marco Wölfli, TCS Media spokesperson
Tel. 058 827 34 03
marco.woelfli@tcs.ch