Go by train its more enviromentely friendly!

There is no "special pass". But there is a regulation, that on national holidays ( such ascension on May 1st)with heavy traffic, the access to the tunnel has to be managed by police for security reasons. Trucks and Campers over 3 tons are stopped, if necessary.

It might be possible that local cars from the canton of Uri have a right of way as it is their soil, which, in my opinion would absolutely make sense.

I can't see the disgrace.

It is 40 francs and not 40 euros and if anyone thinks that the vignettes pays for the streets to be repaired and serviced...

If we were to be treated similarly and equally with all the european cars that block our streets then it would be a much much but much higher sum to pay. Plus the cars should be controlled like ours are to see if they are fit to use our streets, obey all the regulations we must, drive as they should, park where they are allowed to etc etc.

I generalise only because the poster did so.

I also dislike intensely the invite to abuse the system the police found to see if someone is resident or just passing through.

Most swiss systems are based in trust and this should be respected. BY ALL!

Tak

PS: Apropos, there is a big construction going on at the moment in that part and I congratulate the police and swiss autorities that found a responsible way to ease the traffic without endangering anyone.

Switzerland can be a car-drivers-nightmare at times. No wonder there has been a Autofahrer-Partei, since renamed Freiheits-Partei (Freedom-Party) to represent their interests. I have been travelling to Switzerland regularly for the past 45 years and I could tell you hair-rising stories you would not believe.

I know I am going to regret this but here goes:

Actually the Autopartei says (in few words) to bring more cars in Switzerland and to kick foreigners out, so maybe it is not such a good example to use?

However I sympathize that it can very difficult to drive in a country with many environmental and traffic rules, especially in roads that are very hard to construct and maintain with weather situations so that you can also do in summer (when Switzerland is in the middle of the migration route from North to South).

Thus here are three links, where you can find alternative routes:

www.theaa.com and

viamichelin.co.uk/viamichelin/…MaHomePage.htm

And www.rail.ch (you can even put your car on a train)

tak

during traffic jams the entrance at goeschenen is normally closed and this is also announced in the traffic news. normally you can then drive over the gotthard pass road but i expect it was still closed on may 1 due to snow. but then there are exceptions, people living for instance in the area of goeschenen should be allowed to use the entrance in their village hence i guess they let through all with the swiss number plates UR (which stand for canton of Uri). then there is a conflict of interest with business owners in the area of goeschenen hence many (swiss) people might know if they buy something in the area they also have to be let in. so i guess it was not so much about preferring the swiss but the people living in the canton of Uri and some people knowing how the system works.. i say this because in my experience the swiss police is treating all motor vehicle drivers like potential criminals, swiss or foreigners.

cheers,

bowmore

Well, it is probably not the mistake of the policemen that in this country the amount of rules and regulations are increased every year, not only on the roads. Next year they will start controlling people on alcohol, who are about to enter a football stadium!

I'm waiting for the moment when farting will be punished with a jail sentence. :-)

For the cops: Some are nice. Some are not. But normally they are ALL very correct ( or over correct).

coming from a country where corruption is high and the few existing rules and laws are normally put where the sun does not shine, I have to tell you I much prefer living here than there.

Here it is more human...you can live a respectful life and you are treated like a human being.

As for drivers being treated like criminals...well let us consider what can happen if you do not respect the rules and laws. You can kill with a car or injure seriously.

I have had unfortunately both experiences, many times over in my native land. (obviously I did not die, persons very near to me did)

What I find absolutely disgracefull, is that because of the abuse of trust and of anti social behaviour we have even more regulations and laws, like the control of alcohol intake before a match.

We all have to suffer because of some criminally idiotic persons.

Which was my point of why we should not abuse trust. Be it watching a match or driving in a street or whatever.

Tak

this is a fair point tak, of course everything depends on the perspective. even though people get killed by driving cars, we should assume that most people use it in a more or less responsible way. but what we lost in this country is the common sense. people driving once a bit faster on a deserted highway at night or having one beer too much (i don't say drunk driving), get treated like criminals. reason behind this is unfortunately not (only) safety, but it is a great way to make extra (tax) money for the state. why do i hardly see traffic controls near schools but so many during late evenings? anyway my humble opinion..

cheers!

@bowmore

You definitely deserve another whisky from me!