After much debate the Swiss parliament has approved a 150% increase in the cost of a “vignette” (the sticker that all cars must have in order to use Switzerland’s prized network of motorways) which will cost CHF 100 as of 2015. Such an increase has been met with enormous criticism in recent months.
Transport Minister Doris Leuthard argues that the increase is necessary in order to raise the necessary funds to maintain Switzerland’s motorway network, with the additional funds raised used to help fund new road projects. The Green Party of Switzerland (GPS) has, however, highlighted the negative impact road development will have on the environment. Furthermore, some members of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC) have suggested that the increase might be misleadingly used to subsidize rail transport.
Presently, tourists driving in Switzerland, even those using the motorway network to transit between France and Italy, for example, are forced to pay full price for the vignette. The Swiss Government has recognized that this is unfair on tourists and further recognizes that this might have a negative impact on many sectors of the tourism industry. The measure therefore includes a special “tourist vignette” available to tourists at a cost of CHF 40.
Source: Tribune de Genève
