Still driving through or not?
Should I whizz through quickly or is that forbidden? At pedestrian crossings with a central island, both drivers and pedestrians are often confused: Is the car still allowed to drive through even though someone is already walking towards the central island from the other side?
There is no shortage of islands in landlocked Switzerland: More and more traffic islands are joining the pedestrian crossings and dividing them down the middle. But why is that? According to studies, such "double" pedestrian crossings significantly increase safety. Drivers recognize these crosswalks earlier and better and are also more willing to stop - because the island visually narrows the lane. Pedestrians, in turn, feel safer and are less likely to cross the road at an angle or a few meters further - because the island guides them. So it makes sense.
Legally, it's simple: The central island turns one pedestrian crossing into two. This means that the same applies to each half as to any other continuous crosswalk. Anyone reaching the island on foot does not have to stop, but they do have to check briefly, as they do at every crossing: Can the cars stop in time? Drivers, for their part, must give way to pedestrians, so they must be ready to brake when approaching the crossing and stop if someone wants to cross. That is the theory. In practice, uncertainty arises: Does that mean I can cross as long as someone is approaching the island on the other side?
As a rule of thumb it's best to remember it like this: It's the same as always when you don't have the right of way. If the other person - in this case a person - has to slow down or stop because of our car, we have already given them the right of way. Driving through is only permitted as long as the other person is neither hindered nor endangered. Important: Because pedestrians are particularly vulnerable, drivers must be considerate. This means that we must also expect pedestrians to make mistakes in the car. The Federal Supreme Court says: "In a car, we must assume that a person on the island will not look again and will continue blindly without permission. We have to take this into account and stop if in doubt.
By the way: If a pedestrian crosses "our" right-hand side of the road, it is forbidden to whizz through or ride off before the person has reached the sidewalk or island. This also applies to bicycles, e-scooters, etc. And by the way: anyone who wants to use a pedestrian crossing on a two-wheeler must dismount completely. Because if you are still sitting in the saddle or still have one foot on a pedal or still on the e-scooter, you are legally riding, i.e. not on foot - and have no right of way. However, drivers must also stop here as a precaution.
